Draft:Hiroshi Nakazima
(Content in this edit is translated from the existing Japanese Wikipedia article at ja:中島央; see its history for attribution.)
Japanese Movie Director and Screenwriter
Hiroshi Nakazima | |
|---|---|
| 中島 央 | |
| Born | Tokyo, Japan |
| Alma mater | San Francisco State University, Department of Cinema |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
Hiroshi Nakazima (born 1975) is a Japanese movie director and screenwriter.
He is known for directing and writing several English-language films produced in Hollywood, namely Lily and Secret Children.
Biography
[edit]He was born in Tokyo, graduated High-school in New Zealand and then moved to the U.S.A. to study film. In 2003, he graduated from the Department of Cinema at San Francisco State University.[1]
Career
[edit]After graduation, Nakazima started off as a screenwriter and based his filmmaking career in Hollywood, directing two English-language feature films and one short film, all of which he also wrote.
He made his feature directorial debut in 2011 with the Hollywood-produced English-language film Lily. The film, along with Secret Children (2014, produced by FOX / NTT Plala), was screened at film festivals in the United States and Europe and released theatrically in Japan.[2]
Since then, Nakazima has continued to direct a wide range of works including films, television dramas, and commercials. His works have reportedly received over 60 awards and nominations at international film festivals worldwide.[3]
Recent activities
[edit]In 2023, Nakazima directed, wrote, and produced his first Japanese-language feature film, TOKYO, I LOVE YOU. It is an anthology film set in Tokyo.[3] The film is a tribute to his hometown and vividly portrays the lives of various people living in the the city. [4]
Nakazima stated that the concept for TOKYO, I LOVE YOU was inspired by city-themed anthology films such as Paris, je t’aime and New York, I Love You, and that he wanted to create his very own“Tokyo Version”. As a Tokyo native, he explained, “I wanted to portray the city where I was born and raised from a personal perspective.”[5]
Regarding the film’s tone, he described it as “hyper-real,” aiming to capture a version of Tokyo that feels both realistic and at the same time slightly dreamlike.[6]
For filming locations, Nakazima chose symbolic places such as Odaiba, Tokyo Tower, and Shinjuku — not simply as tourist spots, but as expressions of his personal vision of Tokyo. In particular, scenes set on Odaiba’s “Yume no Ōhashi” (Dream Bridge) and the monorail were sequences he had long wished to film.[7]
To young creators, Nakazima offered the message: “It’s important not to be bound by binary values like winning or losing, success or failure. Have the courage to be yourself and keep doing what you love.” He explained that TOKYO, I LOVE YOU carries the theme of “Going through live while affirming one’s own identity against all odds.”[8]
Filmography
[edit]- Lily (Short Film) (2007) – Director, Screenwriter, Producer
- Lily (Feature Film) (2010) – Director, Screenwriter, Producer (Released in Japan: April 2011)
- Secret Children (2014) – Director, Screenwriter, Producer (Released in Japan: May 2014)
- SUMMER TOKYO (Short Film) (2014) – Director, Screenwriter (Broadcast on Hikari TV VOD: October 2014)[9]
- TOKYO, I LOVE YOU (2023) – Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Awards
[edit]TOKYO, I LOVE YOU – Awards and Honors:
The film has received a total of 40 awards from international film festivals. Some of these are:
2025
- Cinema WorldFest Film Awards (USA) – Grand Prix (Best Film of the Year)[10]
- New York International Film Awards (USA) – Best Director
- Robinson Film Awards (Italy) – Best Foreign Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Original Score[11]
- Bangkok Film Awards (Thailand) – Best Director (Critics’ Choice)
- International Independent Film Awards (USA) – Best Screenplay
- Tietê International Film Awards (Brazil) – Best Actress (Silver), Best Sound (Silver)[12]
- New York City International Film Festival (USA) – Best International Film, Best Original Score, Best Producer[13]
2024
- Cinema WorldFest Film Awards (USA) – Best Film, Best Drama, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Art Direction, Best Lighting[14]
- Hollywood Independent Film Awards (USA) – Gold Award (Drama)[15]
- Los Angeles Film Awards (USA) – Best Drama[16]
- London Independent Film Awards (UK) – Best Foreign Film
- Sweden Film Awards (Sweden) – Best Screenplay[17]
- San Diego Film Awards (USA) – Best Foreign Film[18]
- World Class Film Awards (Mexico) – Best Asian Film[19]
- Rome International Film Awards (Italy) – Best Film, Best Director, Best Producer
- Accolade International Film Awards (USA) – Special Merit Award (Asia Theme)[20]
- American Filmatic Arts Awards (USA) – Special Award
- World Premiere Film Awards (USA) – Best Film, Best Drama, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Art Direction, Best Lighting[21]
Lily – Awards and Nominations
Los Angeles Movie Awards 2010 – Honorable Mention (Feature Film Category)
The Accolade 2010 – Award of Merit
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2010 – Nominated for Best Feature (Drama Category)]
Mexico International Film Festival 2009 – Silver Palm Award
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2009 – Nominated for Best Feature (Drama Category)]
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2009 – Nominated for Best Cinematography]
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2009 – Nominated for Best Sound]
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2009 – Nominated for Best Soundtrack] American Gem Screenplay Competition (USA) 2006 – Top 25 Screenplays Award 40th Houston International Film Festival – Best Short Film (Platinum Award), Original Comedy Category
Action on Film International Film Festival 2007 – Best Original Song Award
Everglades International Film Festival (South Africa) – Gold Award, Best Short Film
[Swansea International Film Festival 2007 (UK) – Nominated for Best Short Film]
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2007 – Nominated for Director of the Year]
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2007 – Nominated for Best Actress]
[Action on Film International Film Festival 2007 – Nominated for Best Cinematography]
Awards and Nominations for other works
[Filmmakers International Screenplay Competition 2006 – Eighth Finalist (Feature-Length Screenplay White Room)]
[Filmmakers International Screenplay Competition 2006 – Eighth Finalist (Feature-Length Screenplay Repeat After Me)]
[Fade In Awards Screenplay Competition (USA) 2006 – Quarter-Finalist (Feature-Length Screenplay White Room)]
American Gem International Short Script Competition 2006 – Top 25 Award (Short Film Screenplay Lily)
[American Screenplay Competition 2005 – Finalist (Feature-Length Screenplay Repeat After Me)]
[ScriptRooza International Screenplay Competition 2005 – Semi-Finalist (Feature-Length Screenplay White Room)]
2004年 American Screenplay Competition 2004 – Runner-up (Action/Adventure Category) for the feature-length screenplay White Room
Category:Living people Category:1975 births Category:People from Tokyo Metropolis Category:Japanese film directors
References and External links
- ^ https://lca.sfsu.edu/archive/lcanews/2014/05/09/6438-alum-hiroshi-nakajimas-dystopian-dream-cinema.html
- ^ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/05/08/films/young-japanese-filmmakers-dystopian-dream/
- ^ a b "中島 央". Japanese Wikipedia (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ https://locanavi.com/interview/director/hiroshi_nakajima_tokyoiloveyou/
- ^ https://locanavi.com/interview/director/hiroshi_nakajima_tokyoiloveyou/
- ^ https://locanavi.com/interview/director/hiroshi_nakajima_tokyoiloveyou/
- ^ https://locanavi.com/interview/director/hiroshi_nakajima_tokyoiloveyou/
- ^ https://locanavi.com/interview/director/hiroshi_nakajima_tokyoiloveyou/
- ^ https://eiga.com/news/20120409/5
- ^ www.dreamnews.jp/press/0000321418
- ^ robinsonfilmawards.altervista.org/august-2025/
- ^ www.dreamnews.jp/press/0000333052/
- ^ www.dreamnews.jp/press/0000316773/
- ^ www.dreamnews.jp/press/0000321418
- ^ www.hollywoodindependentfilmmakerawards.com/2024-winners?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3ICl7c07R7auq2Pe4Il-G36Y8moy8OJVik0b7FdJO3Z2zM18d_RRpLV4Q_aem_7vxgwJ2HqWj0LuBgadUN7Q
- ^ www.lafilmawards.net/single-post/september-2024
- ^ https://swedenfilmawards.se/tokyo-i-love-you/
- ^ https://sandiegomovieawards.com/quarterly-competition/fall-2024/award-of-excellence-fall-2024/
- ^ https://www.worldclassfilmawards.com/winners2024
- ^ https://accoladecompetition.org/awards-of-merit-september-2024/
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/p/World-Premiere-Film-Awards-100057576664735/