Home / Event Information : Why We Make Short Films in Local Communities ― At the Forefront of Regional Revitalization × Visual Branding —
Event Information
Why We Make Short Films in Local Communities ― At the Forefront of Regional Revitalization × Visual Branding —
09.29 tue
13:30 - 14:30
the AIR
Why Are Local Communities Turning to Short Films to Tell Their Stories Now?
Learning from Leading Examples of Co-Creative Local Branding
Today, the use of video by local governments and businesses is evolving beyond one-off “tourism promotion.”
It is increasingly being used to build the future of communities
by fostering deeper connections and engagement with people from outside the region and strengthening city branding.
As part of this shift, short films that cinematically portray the lives of local people
and the unique stories rooted in each community are attracting growing attention as a powerful tool.
At the same time, initiatives are beginning to emerge that recognize significant potential not only in the finished films themselves,
but also in the very process of creating short films together within local communities.
In this session, we welcome key figures from three regional projects that are using film as a hub to build sustainable communities.
Through their real-world initiatives, we will explore questions such as:
Why make films in local communities? What economic, cultural, and social value can filmmaking bring to a region?
Together, we will uncover the approaches behind these projects and the keys to their success.
Guest
Kazunari Itakura
Secretary General, Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival
After graduating from university,
Itakura worked in management at a foundation that organized the Kyoto International Student Film & Video Festival. In 2008,
he founded Directors Univ Inc., focusing on creative direction for advertising across film, web, and other media,
as well as the planning and management of project-based initiatives in collaboration with public-sector organizations,
and the production of outdoor screenings and events.
He has been involved in the Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival since its inaugural edition,
overseeing its programming, publicity, and operations. In 2025,
he established the Kyoto HISTORICA Association to manage the festival and has since been involved in promoting Kyoto’s content industries
—including film, games, and animation—as well as developing the next generation of talent.
He also serves as a part-time lecturer at the Faculty of Business Administration, Ryukoku University. 
Yoshiyuki Date
Co-Representative, SITES Urban Design Institute / Representative Director, Sewn
Born in 1995 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Date became independent in 2025.
In the same year, he founded Sewn and serves as its Representative Director.
He is also Co-Representative of SITES Urban Design Institute, established in 2024 and specializing in urban research and design.
Working with communities in Japan and abroad, he specializes in research, community engagement, and creative direction.
His strength lies in interdisciplinary project design spanning graphics,
film, spatial design, community building, and operational programs.
Collaboration with creators and artists is always at the heart of his projects.
Working together with local residents and creators,
he seeks to rediscover cultural resources and create mechanisms
for sharing their value and fostering engagement and empathy.
In the field of film, urar suye won the Best Film Award in its category at the Japan World’s Tourism Film Festival in 2025
and was nominated at Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026.
In urban design, he received an Excellence Award at the inaugural Visional City Design Competition in 2025
and another Excellence Award at RED SPACE MUTATIONS #1 (AWRD) in 2026. 
Taro Inudo
Director, Brand Promotion Division / Director, Business Planning Division,
Cable Media Waiwai Co., Ltd.
At Cable Media Waiwai Co., Ltd., Inudo is engaged in community-based media initiatives,
using content to make local communities more vibrant, enjoyable, and enriching.
He develops experiences that bring the kind of “New! Fun! Amazing!”
opportunities that are often difficult to encounter outside major cities.
His work includes producing waiwai PLAY LAB, an edutainment facility centered on video,
as well as Connect & Create NOBEOKA, a co-creation program bringing together visual creators and the local community.
He has also led numerous innovative projects involving projection mapping, e-sports, and the development of virtual presenters.
waiwai PLAY LAB received the Good Design Award in 2023. 
Kyoko Tamura
Assistant Director (Head of Film Production Support),
eSports and Creative Industries Promotion Division, Strategic Sales Bureau,
Department of Industry and Economic Affairs, Gunma Prefectural Government
Tamura is responsible for initiatives focused primarily on the film and visual media sector
as part of Gunma Prefecture’s efforts to develop the “digital and creative industries” as
a new pillar of the regional economy.
Her work includes operating the Gunma Film Commission
and attracting film and television productions to the prefecture, providing production support grants of up to JPY 20 million,
promoting productions filmed on location in Gunma,
and fostering and attracting creative talent through initiatives such as the Gunma Next-Generation Visual Creator Competition. 
Yuya Katsunuma
Officer, Film Production Support Section,
eSports and Creative Industries Promotion Division,
Strategic Sales Bureau, Department of Industry and Economic Affairs, Gunma Prefectural Government
From April 2025, Katsunuma spent one year on secondment to the Creative Industries Promotion Office of Japan’s Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry (METI), where he worked on content industry policy.
He assumed his current position in April 2026 and is primarily responsible for planning
and managing the Gunma Next-Generation Visual Creator Competition.
In addition to supporting selected creators with film production and promotional activities,
he works to develop an environment in which creators can continue producing and pursuing creative activities in Gunma Prefecture.