Japanese Literary Awards

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Nobuhiro Suwa

すわ のぶひろ

Nobuhiro Suwa

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-05-28 （Saeki Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Film director, Screenwriter, University professor
Active Years
1996-
Affiliations
Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo University of the Arts, QMF (Quest Movie Factory)
Influenced By
Robert Kramer, Kawanaka Nobuhiro, Alain Resnais

Education

Tokyo Zokei University
Department of Design / Design Department
Country: Japan
Hatsukaichi High School (Hiroshima Prefecture)
Country: Japan

Awards

FIPRESCI Prize (International Federation of Film Critics)
1999
Work: M/OTHER
Organization: Cannes Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Best Film Award
1999
Work: M/OTHER
Category: 最優秀作品賞
Organization: Takasaki Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Young Director Grand Prix
1997
Work: 2/DUO
Category: 若手監督グランプリ
Organization: Takasaki Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Jury Special Prize
2005
Work: The Incomplete Two
Category: 審査員特別賞
Organization: Locarno International Film Festival
Result: 受賞
International Jury Special Prize
2020
Work: The Telephone of the Wind
Organization: Berlin International Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Gläserner Bär (Glass Bear) Special Prize
2020
Work: The Telephone of the Wind
Organization: Berlin International Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize
2021
Work: The Telephone of the Wind
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Screenplay Award
1999
Work: M/OTHER
Category: 脚本賞
Organization: Mainichi Film Awards
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

2/DUO

1996 Feature film

His feature debut employing improvisational directing; a quiet drama that examines the relationship between two people.

Interpersonal relationshipsImprovisationYouth

M/OTHER

1999 Feature film

An experimental drama that uses improvisational methods to explore relationships and loss within a familial context; earned international recognition.

FamilyLossMemory

H Story

2001 Feature film

A meta-cinematic work that revisits Alain Resnais's Hiroshima mon amour (Hirosima mon amour), interrogating the boundary between fiction and reality.

MemoryRemembrance of warMetafiction

The Incomplete Two

2005 Feature film

An international co-production with French cast and crew; a delicate human drama about the relationships and frictions between two people.

Cross-cultural exchangeRelationshipsCommunication

Yuki & Nina

2009 Feature film

A Japan-France co-directed film with Hippolyte Girard, depicting the growth, friendship, and cross-cultural encounters of young girls; screened at Cannes.

FriendshipComing of ageCross-cultural encounters

Le lion est mort ce soir

2017 Feature film

A drama set in the Francophone world that interweaves the lives of several characters.

Human relationshipsAlienationEncounters

The Telephone of the Wind

2020 Feature film

Based on the real memorial 'Telephone of the Wind,' the film quietly explores loss and healing; it received recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival.

LossHealingMemory

How Those Who Cannot Run Run

2024 Film

Appeared in the 2024 film (credited as a performer).

Bibliography

  • 2/DUO (1996)
  • M/OTHER (1999)
  • H Story (2001)
  • The Incomplete Two (2005)
  • Yuki & Nina (2009)
  • Le lion est mort ce soir (2017)
  • The Telephone of the Wind (2020)
  • How Those Who Cannot Run Run (2024) - Appearance

Style & Themes

Literary Style
improvisational directingnaturalistic acting approachobservational filmmakinginfluences of the Nouvelle Vague
Recurring Motifs
Hiroshimamemorylossfamily relationshipscross-cultural encounters

Health

  • 2013
    Resigned as president of Tokyo Zokei University in 2013 for medical treatment.

Legacy

A film director internationally recognized for improvisational directing, who has also left an impact as an educator. He has received awards at major film festivals worldwide.

In Popular Culture

  • The film 'The Telephone of the Wind' helped bring wider attention to the real memorial site known as the Telephone of the Wind.

Trivia

  • Known for his improvisational directing methods.
  • Served as president of Tokyo Zokei University (2008–2013).
  • Won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival for 'M/OTHER'.
  • Received international recognition for 'The Telephone of the Wind' (2020) including awards at the Berlin International Film Festival.