KAZUHIRO SODA’S OBSERVATIONAL DOC, ‘INLAND SEA’, TO COMPETE IN 2018 ARTS OF THE REAL IN NEW YORK CITY

“INLAND SEA // ROCK SALT RELEASING”
Silent, black and white observational documentary, ‘INLAND SEA’ (‘Minatomachi’) by Kazuhiro Soda returns to New York for second Arts of the Real competition. Will host Q&A for ‘INLAND SEA’ on April 28 at 8:30 P.M.

Los Angeles, CA – March 27, 2018 –

Kazuhiro Soda’s ‘INLAND SEA’ to have its North America Premiere during Arts of the Real in New York.

Distinguished documentarian, Kazuhiro Soda is taking his silent, black and white Observational Film #7, ‘INLAND SEA’ (‘Minatomachi’), to New York City to compete in The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s fifth edition of Arts of the Real – an essential showcase for the most vital and innovative voices in nonfiction and hybrid filmmaking from April 26th to May 6th, 2018.

“This year we are thrilled to spotlight a group of remarkable artists who work with documentary aesthetics and practices in formally exciting ways,” said Film Society of Lincoln Center Programmer-at-Large Rachael Rakes, who organized the festival with Director of Programming Dennis Lim. “By bringing these artists and their works, typically exhibited in gallery contexts, to the cinema, we are acknowledging the intimate, focused environment that the theater and its audience offers.”

The lineup for the 2018 Arts of the Real will include several works including new works from familiar names, including the North American Premiere of his “black-and-white maritime vérité doc ‘INLAND SEA’ by Kazuhiro Soda”, whose ‘OYSTER FACTORY’ was part of Art of the Real 2015.

Produced by Kiyoko Kashiwagi, ‘INLAND SEA’ takes place in a small village in the Inland Sea of Japan, Ushimado, whose rich culture and close community are rapidly declining due to Japan’s post-war era of modernization.

“Through a mix of vérité shots and direct conversations, Soda shows that these tenacious residents are so much more than remnants of a dying way of life,” wrote Jordan Raup in Art of the Real, FilmLinc Daily


Photo from FilmLinc Daily.

‘INLAND SEA’ observes the remaining community in Ushimado – Wai-chan, an 86 year-old fisherman dreaming of retirement, Kumi-san, an 84 year-old villager wandering Japan’s shores in search for her son, and Koso-san, an elderly woman who run’s her deceased husband’s small seafood store, selling to fish to local villagers and giving leftovers to Ushimado’s stray cats.

Influenced by Frederick Wiseman, “the teacher closest to [Soda’s] heart”, Soda has created his own method of filmmaking he calls “observation”, adhering to his “Ten Commandments”, ones which involve no pre-research or scripting, and allowing the camera to roll and document the world in its most unfiltered form. Soda’s ability to capture the reality in front of him allows for his loosely structured production process where he can maintain control and have independent freedom. 


Photo from IndiePost.

“I wanted to preserve the community and people living in this town in a documentary film like Time Capsule,” Soda said to Jeonghun Lee from IndiePost.

For the fifth edition of Arts of the Real in New York, Soda will hold a Q&A for ‘INLAND SEA’ (Japanese with English subtitled) on Saturday, April 28th at 8:30 P.M.

To learn more and for questions about the festival, please visit: www.filmlinc.org. For press inquires, please contact: jenna@tricoast.com.

‘INLAND SEA’ was chosen as an official selection in the 2018 Berlinale Forum section and received the prestigious nomination for the second-ever Glasshütte Original Documentary Award. For March/April 2018, ‘INLAND SEA’ has/will compete in the 40th “Cinéma du Réel” International Film Festival in Paris as well as Asia’s oldest and most reputable platforms for filmmakers, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

ROCK SALT RELEASING is Hollywood’s newest independent sales and distribution label spearheaded by Acquisitions Executive Daisy Hamilton and Dean Fernando at TriCoast Worldwide. ROCK SALT RELEASING has acquired the worldwide rights for prominent Japanese director Kazuhiro Soda’s (‘CAMPAIGN’, ‘MENTAL’, ‘OYSTER FACTORY’) black and white observational film, ‘INLAND SEA’ (2018, 122 min, Observational Film #7).

For more information about ‘INLAND SEA’, please visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6869686/

INLAND SEA (2018, 122 min.) Directed by Kazuhiro Soda. Editor: Kazuhiro Soda. Cinematographer: Kazuhiro Soda. Original Music: Kazuhiro Soda. Japan/USA. Silent. Laboratory X, TriCoast Worldwide, ROCK SALT RELEASING.

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Laboratory X – Kiyoko Kashiwagi, Kazuhiro Soda.

ROCK SALT RELEASING: Daisy Hamilton and Dean Fernando.

About TriCoast Worldwide: 

TriCoast Worldwide is a premium international sales agent, representing the best of US and international films at all the major film markets. Sister company to TriCoast Entertainment and TriCoast Studios, the company is located at the Studio facility in Culver City, Los Angeles.

Founded by: Strathford Hamilton and Marcy Levitas Hamilton.

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