Hello everyone. I’m Hirobumi Watanabe, a film diretor from Otawara city in Tochigi prefecture.
We made a film making group “Otawara Gutonsha (Otawara foolish piggies)” together with my brother, Yuji Watanabe, a film music composer in 2013. We made many films shooted in our hometown, Otawara.
And finally, our dream came true and we will hold “TOCHIGI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL” in our hometown.
I’ve been a film director for ten years.
Communicating with people in film industry both in Japan and overseas, I’ve had a powerful dream of holding a film festival in Otawara.
My dream was getting stronger when I feel various film festivals’ enthusiasm.
And last year, in 2024, We held a screening event of our “Gutonsha” films with generous support from people in Otawara.
Then I felt the their warmth and strong interest for in films. After this event, our dream became realizable.
The festival name “TOCHIGI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL” includes our hope.
We want to screen wonderful films both in Japan and from overseas, and make a place for people in Otawara and film fans to communicate with people in film industry who are working internationally.
Through a film making workshop for kids, we hope to foster the next generation of international filmmakers.
Moreover, we want to promote Tochigi prefecture as an international city of the arts to the world.
They are our hopes for this film festival.
In this film festival, we will screen the feature films made by directors working internationally, and make the opportunity to communicate with film makers.
We will also have an international short film competition which is open to all over the world, and make a good opportunity for film makers to expand their possibilities.
Additionally, we plan to hold a children’s film workshop with the aim of fostering the next generation of filmmakers with an international perspective.
Nowadays, we are struggling for the success of the film festival with more than 40 members who applied to make this dream come true.
Since this is my first experience to build a new film festival from scratch, I myself don’t know what to do. However, I am working hard on this project together with wonderful, encouraging members.
My big dream of holding a film festival in Tochigi Prefecture is no longer just my dream.
I have friends who share the same passion.
Please look forward to the “TOCHIGI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL” in September.
We hope this film festival will be an unforgettable and moving experience for all of you.
I am looking forward to meeting you all.
Festival director and programming director
Hirobumi Watanabe
