Katsuya Tomita

After his A-levels Katsuya Tomita worked as a labourer and lorry driver. He has been making his own films since 1996, in his hometown, investing the money he had saved and having his friends act.

ABOVE THE CLOUDS (2003), was shot on 8mm and took three years to complete, he financed it working as a truck driver. He then used the prize money he received for this film to shoot OFF HIGHWAY 20 (2007). His third film SAUDADE (2011) was invited to the Locarno International Film Festival and won the Mainichi Film Award for Best Director. BANGKOK NITES (2016), his fourth film on post-colonialism, shot in Thailand and Laos with locals, was also screened at Locarno. La Semaine de la Critique organised a special screening of his film TENZO (2023) as part of its 58th edition.

Filmography

Features
In development: Lang Fang
2016: Bangkok Nites
2012: Onaji Hoshi No Shita, Sorezore No Yoru
2011: Saudade
2007: Off Highway 20
2003: Above the Clouds

Documentaries
2023: Tenzo