Invitational Screenings / Special Programs
Giovanni’s Island
Preview Video
ⓒJAME
Synopsis
In the aftermath of the most devastating conflict mankind had ever experienced, friendship among children from two different countries timidly blossomed on a remote corner of the world, striving to overcome language barriers and the waves of history. Based on true events.
Director
Mizuho Nishikubo
Mizuho Nishikubo
Born in Tokyo in 1953, Mizuho Nishikubo is one of Mamoru Oshii’s longest-standing and most trusted creative collaborators. Credited under his real name, Toshihiko Nishikubo, he served as sequence director on many of Oshii’s animated films, including Ghost in the Shell (1995), Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004), and The Sky Crawlers (2008), helping shape their distinctive visual language. His directing credits include the OVA Video Girl Ai (1992), the television series Otogi Zoshi (2004), and the animated feature Atagoal: Cat’s Magical Forest (2006). In 2009, he directed the animated documentary Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai, based on a script by Oshii. The film had its international premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. Giovanni's Island has won 15 awards all around the globe, including Annecy, Fantasia, the Chicago Children's Film Festival and Anima Brussels.
Talk Event Guest：Taiki Sakurai (Producer)
Talk Event Guest：Taiki Sakurai (Producer)
Taiki Sakurai began his career as a screenwriter at Production I.G in 2002 with Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. His writing credits also include REDLINE and numerous other titles. After serving as both screenwriter and producer on Giovanni’s Island, he shifted his focus to producing.
In 2017, he joined Netflix as Chief Director, leading its anime creative team for six years. His producing credits include Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, Pokémon Concierge, and Love Through a Prism.
In June 2023, he founded Salamander Pictures, where he draws on his experience as a screenwriter and producer to develop new anime projects.
Talk Event Interviewer : Tadashi Sudo（ANIAFF Artistic Director）
Talk Event Interviewer : Tadashi Sudo（ANIAFF Artistic Director）
Journalist
Born in Mexico and raised in Yokohama. He specializes in news coverage and research on the entertainment industry, particularly animation, film, and manga.
After working at a major securities firm, he launched the news website "Anime! Anime!" in 2004. Following the sale of the company operating the website, he became an independent freelance journalist in 2016.
He currently serves as Artistic Director of the Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival (ANIAFF).
His major publications include "Dare ga Korekara no Anime o Tsukuru no ka? Chugoku Shihon to Netto Haishin ga Okosu Shizuka na Kakumei" and "Nihon no Anime Kantoku wa Ikani Shite Sekai e Utte Deta no ka?" (both published by Seikaisha Shinsho).
- Staff
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- Original Story: Shigemichi Sugita
- Screenplay: Yoshiki Sakurai
- Character Design Concept: Atsuko Fukushima
- Character Designer and Key Animation Supervisor: Nobutake Ito
- Scene Director: Masaki Tachibana
- Runtime
- 102min
Special Program
A talk event featuring the film’s producer, Taiki Sakurai, who will share insights into the making of the film and behind-the-scenes stories from its production.