Naomi Kawase

My dream for some time was to realize an international film festival in my home town Nara, where people gather from the world and interact.
My films which I've been making in Nara, where I was born and grew up have been transmitting Nara and the existence of people living there.
I consider the grand prize of the 60th film festival of Cannes as a result of having been taking step by step by fixing my eye on my feet and my hometown.

I wanted to hold an international film festival in Nara with lots of world heritages by taking advantage of this opportunity.
I'd like as many people from the world to meet in the Nara international Film Festival in Nara, and to meet the excellence of Nara.
And I wish the experience of the film festival and encounters will bring hope and chances for the future for especially the young generation.