Hirokazu Kore-eda

Hirokazu Kore-eda was born in Tokyo, Japan, on June 6, 1962. After graduating from Waseda University in 1987, he began his career as an assistant director at T.V. Man Union, where he directed several documentary programs. His early work included documentaries like “Mou hitotsu no kyouiku – Ina shogakkou haru gumi no kiroku” (1991) and “August Without Him” (1994), which showcased his early interest in documentary filmmaking and themes of memory and loss. In 1995, Kore-eda debuted his first feature film, “Maborosi,” which received the Golden Osella for Best Cinematography at the Venice Film Festival.

Kore-eda has consistently received critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout his career for his distinctive narrative style, often focusing on unconventional family dynamics and emotional truths. Key milestones include winning the Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for “Like Father, Like Son,” and the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for “Shoplifters.” His filmography includes other notable works such as “Nobody Knows” (2004), “Still Walking” (2008), and “Our Little Sister” (2015), all of which explore complex human relationships with sensitivity and depth. His directorial reach has also expanded internationally with “The Truth” (2019), his first French-language film, and “Broker” (2022), his first Korean-language film, demonstrating his versatility and continuous artistic evolution.

More recently, Kore-eda has ventured into television series, adapting works like “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” (2023) for Netflix and the upcoming series “Asura” (2025). He continued to receive accolades, including the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for “Monster.” Kore-eda’s films are characterized by their contemplative style and naturalistic approach, earning him comparisons to acclaimed filmmakers while maintaining his unique voice in exploring the fundamental aspects of human existence and societal impact.