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In recognition of the city’s vibrant activities in the field of cinema, including YIDFF, Yamagata was designated City of Film by UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2017. This year, the city becomes home to a new initiative called Yamagata Documentary Dojo, an international artist-in-residence program. Four Southeast Asian filmmakers will reside at the Zao hot spring resort for four weeks in order to review and strengthen their documentary projects in post-production. A four-day workshop will be held as a part of this project, inviting documentary filmmakers in Japan to join the Southeast Asian filmmakers and mentors to stay at a traditional inn, think and discuss documentary together, and look at projects from new eyes.

Five filmmakers will be chosen from all candidates.

[The workshop]

Participants will present their documentary projects and discuss them within an international workgroup. There will be lectures and screenings in the mornings and evenings, as well as time to soak in open air hot baths and take walks by the lake.
For updates and details, see Facebook webpage.

• Program fee: 30,000 yen (includes Tokyo-Yamagata return ticket on shinkansen, travel between Yamagata and Zao, 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and participation in full program.) *Alternate travel routes available
• 5 filmmakers will be chosen.
• Mentors: Mary Stephen (film editor / of films by Eric Rohmer and Ann Hui, Last Train Home by Fan Lixin), Soda Kazuhiro (filmmaker / Campaign, Mental, Inland Sea), Suzuki Haruyuki (composer / H Story, Nuclear Nation, Reviving Recipes), Hata Takeshi (film editor, producer / Trace of Breath, Of Love and Law, Sennan Asbestos Disaster), and others
• Stay: Matsukaneya Annex in Zao Onsen (Yamagata)

[Requirements]

• You have a documentary project in production
• You can communicate in Japanese or English
• You can take part in the entire program

[Application]

To submit, attach 1–3 as a Word file to an email and send to info@ddcenter.org

1. Write: Your name, address, phone, email, age, short biography, language level
2. Write: Why you want to participate in the workshop (in 100 words)
3. Project description of your film (in 400 words)

• Include an online link of visual materials you would like to share or send a DVD to:
  DD Center c/o Cinematrix, 6F Daisan Yamada Bldg, 22 Aizumi-cho, Tokyo 160-0005
• Submission deadline: 23:30 Sept. 24. Results will be conveyed by Oct. 3.
• Submission fee: no charge

[Presented by]

Documentary Dream Center, Yamagata Creative City Promotion Council

[Supported by]

Japan Foundation Asia Center / The Grant Program for Promotion of Cultural Collaboration

[In Cooperation with]

Zao Onsen Tourism Association, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tokyo Docs, Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, Cinematrix

[Contact]

e-mail: info@ddcenter.org (Documentary Dream Center)

For more information Documentary Dream Center website (in Japanese) | Facebook