The 11th Saudi Film Festival has hosted a masterclass by Oscar-nominated Japanese director Koji Yamamura, according to the festival’s official website.
The festival provided animation lovers with an exclusive opportunity to engage with pioneering global directors like Yamamura.
Titled “Giving Shape to Invisible Light,” the masterclass captured the attention of animation enthusiasts on Saturday, April 19.
During the event, the Japanese director and filmmaker showcased his process and offered attendees fruitful insights into his unique approach.
Yamamura began his career in creating films when he was just 13 years old. He had gained a prestigious reputation after his 10-minute 2002 film “Mt. Head” earned him an Oscar nomination in the Best Short Film category.
In this context, Yamamura revealed that many of his works take spirit from traditional tales. Interestingly, people definitely know the beginning and end of such tales, so the challenge significantly lies in how he fills in the space.
To encourage viewers to watch his films, Yamamura depends on both absurdity and clarity along with a Kafkaesque space.
“I’m very interested in Arabic culture. It is my first time in Saudi Arabia — I would like to sketch it. I think the landscape is very different from Japan,” Yamamura told Arab News after the session.
He also specified some time at the end of the masterclass to answer questions by moderator Naoures Rouissi of the Arab Film Festival Zurich.
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