Hiroshi NISHIO, born in 1974, gained his first experience in the film world by working on the sets of Kinji FUKASAKU films as a teenager. In 2003, his first feature, NATIONAL ANTHEM, was awarded the Grand Prix by a film promotion board in Osaka. His manga adaption SOUL FLOWER TRAIN (NC ’13) was later shown at several international film festivals.

Nobuhiro YAMASHITA, born in Aichi Prefecture in 1976, studied at Osaka University of Arts and started his career at Planet Studyo +1 in Osaka. His feature film debut HAZY LIFE (1999) was an international success and was screened in 2000 at the first Nippon Connection Film Festival. He had his commercial breakthrough with the comedy LINDA LINDA LINDA (2005 / NC ’08). Establishing his distinctive style with his subsequent works, including A GENTLE BREEZE IN THE VILLAGE (2007 / NC ’07), TAMAKO IN MORATORIUM (2013 / NC ’14), and OVER THE FENCE (2016 / NC ’17), YAMASHITA has become one of the major protagonists of the Japanese film industry. His comedy LET’S GO KARAOKE! (2024) received the 2024 NIPPON CINEMA AWARD.