Hi, this is Izumitani from the Ehime Film Commission (Ehime FC)!
On March 8, Director Masaki Nishiyama paid a courtesy visit to Governor Nakamura of Ehime Prefecture, and on March 17, he visited Mayor Noshi of Matsuyama. I had the honor of attending both visits.
A Warm Reunion with the Governor
Director Nishiyama and Governor Nakamura go way back! They first connected during the Ehime International Film Festival in 2020 and again in 2021, when Nishiyama received the Egao no Ehime Culture and Sports Award. The governor warmly encouraged Nishiyama, saying, “It’s great to see you thriving since your award in 2021!” The conversation then shifted to Nishiyama’s Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2021 win in the Vertical Theater category. Governor Nakamura, intrigued by the director’s approach, noted, “Your previous works were in vertical format, but I hear the theatrical version will be in horizontal. I’m looking forward to its release!”
A Lively Chat with the Mayor
During his visit with Mayor Noshi, the atmosphere was lively! Both Nishiyama and the mayor are from the former Hojo City, which made for an engaging conversation.
The mayor asked,
“What makes your latest work different from other films?”
Nishiyama explained,
“Our filming approach isn’t conventional. Since it’s shot in a vertical format, the narrower frame allows us to emphasize depth (vertically), creating an intense sense of fear by restricting the viewer’s field of vision.”
Exciting Plans for “Invisible Half”
Nishiyama’s upcoming film, Invisible Half (tentative title), will begin shooting in March. The film will feature various locations in Matsuyama. The mayor showed great interest in the project.
The director shared his enthusiasm, saying,
“Once it’s completed, I’ll work hard to showcase it at film festivals worldwide so that many people can enjoy it!”
With the film set for release in 2024, expectations are high! We’ll continue to share updates on Director Nishiyama’s projects, so stay tuned!