APM - Asian Project Market

2023 Project

Logline

Daniel grew up in Japan and Taiyo grew up abroad.
They have different looks and different experiences, but they start searching for their father within the time limit!

Synopsis

Daniel lives with mother, stepfather and sister. He was the only one with dark skin because of his black father, whom he had never met. His family is close, but he feels that they are always looking out for him, and he wants to save up money quickly, leave home to live alone.
One day a young English-speaking man Taiyo visits Daniel′s house and says, "Your father could be my father." It turns out to be a different person with the same name soon. Taiyo had recently lost his Filipino mother and was looking for his Japanese father, because if his father recognizes him before his 20th birthday, he will obtain Japanese citizenship and be able to live in Japan. With a little information, he asked a detective to investigate, and as a result, he came to Daniel′s house. Taiyo is depressed and asks Daniel to search for his father together. Daniel refuses first, but Taiyo says he will give him 500,000 yen if he finds him. Daniel accepts his proposal.
They set up a Twitter account, asking for information, and start looking for him with the few clues. They visit many people, researching the places where Taiyo′s father might have lived and the relationships he interacted with. Although they have different roots and upbringings, they naturally become friends as they spend time together. Finally, they reach the person they think is Taiyo’s father. They go to his place together, but their reunion comes to an unexpected end.

Director's Statement

My mother is Japanese, and my father is British. When I turned 20, I had to select one. I chose Japanese citizenship without hesitation, but to abandon one nationality was to abandon half of my roots. Because of these feelings of regret, I became interested in "choosing a place where people with two nationalities can live," which can only happen in countries that require a single nationality.
This film depicts young people struggling to grasp their identity with their own hands, while being tossed about by the system and the predetermined fate of nationality and family.
Through friendships that transcend race, nationality, and language, this film aims to create a vision for the future in which we will live.

Producer's Statement

This film is a story about two people with different roots who meet, each searching for their own identity, getting to know each other, and friendship that overcomes the boundaries of language and nationality.
It is natural that people from different backgrounds think differently. It is sometimes difficult to understand each other. Nevertheless, I believe that by trusting each other and striving to know each other, we can come to understand each other. At a time when conflicts still persist in the world, I am convinced that that the story of friendship depicted in this film will surely provide hope for the future.
We would like to make this film as an international co-production. To be applied for subsidy.

Director's Profile

Producer's Profile