'Japanese Master' Kiyoshi Kurosawa: "I'm Glad Bong Joon-ho Considers Me a Friend" [BIFF]

Busan Film Festival Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award
"Made Films for 40 Years, Still Not Enough"

Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who won the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 29th Busan International Film Festival, attended a press conference on the 3rd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

"As Bong Joon-ho became a globally recognized director, I thought of him as a 'person on a cloud out of reach,' but after watching the video, I was happy to realize 'he still considers me a friend."

Japanese master director Kiyoshi Kurosawa expressed his gratitude to Director Bong, who sent a congratulatory video for the opening ceremony, at the press conference for the recipient of this year's Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held on the afternoon of the 3rd at a department store in Haeundae-gu, Busan. In the video, Director Bong said, "I have been a long-time fan of Director Kurosawa," adding, "I have many favorite works of his, and each time they shock and inspire me, for which I am grateful as a filmmaker."

Kurosawa came to Busan with two new films, The Snake Path and Cloud. The day before, he walked the red carpet for the opening film. He said, "It was my first time walking such a long red carpet," and added, "It was enjoyable." He also said, "After the opening ceremony, there was a party where many creators from France, Hong Kong, Japan, and other places gathered. I felt that the Busan Film Festival is a microcosm of world cinema. I was surprised that world cinema gathers in Korea, which is just an hour and a half away from Japan."

Born in 1955, Director Kurosawa debuted with the film Tokyo Decadence (1983) and began gaining international attention with Cure (1997). He subsequently directed Pulse (2001), Bright Future (2002), and Retribution (2006). He received the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Tokyo Sonata (2008), the Un Certain Regard Directing Award for Journey to the Shore (2014), and the Best Director Award at the Venice Film Festival for Wife of a Spy (2020).

Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who won the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 29th Busan International Film Festival, attended a press conference on the 3rd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Though a craftsman who has been making films for decades, his passion remains intense. Kurosawa said, "I have been making films for over 40 years. In Japan, I am called a 'veteran,' but I always wonder 'how will I make the next film?' My 'theme' has not been fixed to that extent." He added, "Is there another 69-year-old director who shoots two films a year? I am a somewhat different kind of director."

While he is highly regarded for his work in genres such as horror and thriller, he has presented a wide variety of films that are difficult to categorize. Kurosawa said, "I started making films because I love watching them. There are many great directors, but every time I watch films, I feel there is always something lacking. I want to make a film that is flawless from every angle, 360 degrees. It doesn't feel like moving straight ahead but rather like spinning around. I cannot imagine pursuing only one direction."