7.24 (Thu) Competition
When You Wish Upon a Black Hole
- Onsite
- 7.24 (Thu) 17:00 Audio Visual Hall
©2024 STUDIO MOVES All Rights Reserved
Director: So WATANABE
Cast: Narumi YONEZAWA, Marina YOSHIMI, Riku SAITO, Takayuki HAMATSU, Catcher NAKAZAWA, Hiroaki NERIO, Miyuki TORII, Yukijiro HOTARU
2025 / Japan / 117min.
The setting is 2036. A time not far from now. Professor Akagi of the Artificial Degeneracy Research Institute commits a time crime and declares revenge against humanity. Iseda is determined to rescue Dr. Yoshizumi, trapped inside a time-delay field known as the bobble field. However, due to her selective mutism, Iseda cannot speak whenever she feels stressed. Can Iseda and the people at the institute rescue Dr. Yoshizumi and stop the time crime? This film won the Top Project Award at Kachinko Project, a competition organized by director Takashi Miike. Filming took place over three years at locations including Hashima (Gunkanjima) and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), with a total of eight years from the start of planning to completion. A Sci-Fi tokusatsu movie, portraying powerful drama and unprecedented visual effects, crafted to confront the age of division. This screening marks its world premiere at the film festival.
Director: So WATANABE
Born in 1992 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. Watanabe graduated from Kyushu University’s School of Design. He completed the 134th term at the Scenario Center. His short film The Cheering Squad: Breaking Through The Limits (15) was selected for the 38th Pia Film Festival. He worked as an assistant art staff member (Team B) on Shin Godzilla (16), directed the commercial for the Godzilla Exhibition at Fukuoka Art Museum (16), and also directed the promotional video KitaQman PV “Hey!! Kitakyushu” (18). He has been involved in various visual productions, including tokusatsu special effects works such as the Ultraman series.
Message
I’ve been drawn to tokusatsu special effects works like Godzilla and Ultraman since I was a child. They were more than just entertainment; they helped me become aware of various issues in modern society. With When You Wish Upon a Black Hole, I set out to stay true to the essence of tokusatsu while incorporating contemporary themes. The project began on July 29, 2016, and after eight years in the making, it is finally complete. I sincerely hope you enjoy the film.
