Yoko Yamanaka
Yōko Yamanaka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997 (age 28–29) Nagano, Japan |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2017-present |
| Notable work | |
Yōko Yamanaka (山中瑶子, Yamanaka Yōko; born 1997) is a Japanese filmmaker known for her 2017 film, Amiko, and 2024 film, Desert of Namibia.
Career
Yamanaka dropped out of the Nihon University College of Art to create her debut film, Amiko.[1][2] She wrote the screenplay at 19 years old, six months after graduating from high school. The film premiered in 2017 at the Pia Film Festival and won the Audience Award and the Hikari TV Award.[3] Amiko subsequently showed at the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival, making Yamanaka the youngest director ever to premiere a film at the Berlin festival at only 20 years old.[2][4]
Her next feature film, Desert of Namibia, screened at the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.[5] She won the FIPRESCI Award at the festival for her work directing the film. At age 27, Yamanaka was the youngest female director to win this award and the sixth Japanese director to win.[6][3]
Personal life
Yamanaka was born in Nagano in 1997.[2][7] Her mother is Chinese.[8]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Credited as | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | Writer | ||
| 2017 | Amiko | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2019 | See You on the Other Side (short)[9] | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2024 | Desert of Namibia | Yes | No | Yes |
References
- ^ Kotzathanasis, Panos (October 18, 2024). "Interview with Yoko Yamanaka". Asian Movie Pulse. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c Wong Macabasco, Lisa (May 15, 2025). "With 'Desert of Namibia,' Yôko Yamanaka Creates a Heroine for Our Thoroughly Addled Times". Vogue. Archived from the original on June 10, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Matsumoto, Takuya (October 30, 2024). "Yamanaka Yōko's "Desert of Namibia" Shows Young Film Director's Promise". Nippon.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Foulkes, Sarah (July 29, 2018). "'Amiko' Is A Microbudget Wonder And A Different Kind Of Coming-Of-Age Movie [Fantasia Film Festival]". SlashFilm. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Schley, Matt (May 15, 2024). "Cannes 2024: Japan hot projects". Screen. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ "Japanese Director Yamanaka's Film Wins Critics Award at Cannes". Japan News. May 26, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Kotzathanasis, Panos (October 18, 2024). "Interview with Yoko Yamanaka". Asian Movie Pulse. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Talks with directors: Yoko Yamanaka". psycho-cinematography. August 4, 2018. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ Symchuk, Adam (July 24, 2020). "Short Film Review: See You on the Other Side (2019) by Yoko Yamanaka". Asian Movie Pulse. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2025.