On November 30 (US time), it was announced that “About the Pink Sky“, winner of the Japanese Eyes Best Picture Award at 24th Tokyo International Film Festival, has been officially selected for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in the “World Cinema Dramatic Competition” category.
 
Held each year in Utah, the festival is world renowned as the ultimate showcase for independent film, and is known for being chaired by actor, Robert Redford.
Past participants include such luminaries of the film world as the Coen brothers, Quentin Tarantino, and Jim Jarmusch, amongst other noted directors.
Sundance also has a reputation as a film festival that attracts Hollywood’s biggest names such as Brad Pitt.
 
“About the Pink Sky” is a coming-of-age tale that depicts the emotional journey of a group of high school students in a naturalistic style, shot completely in black and white.
 
The debut feature film of director, Keiichi Kobayashi, made a huge impact at this year’s TIFF and was much talked about amongst industry insiders.
Marking its international film festival debut just two months after its domestic success, director Kobayashi commented, “It’s a real honor to be given the opportunity for the film to be seen by audiences in various countries and regions around the world.”
Representing an exciting, new voice in independent cinema, the film is generating a lot of buzz making its foray onto the world stage so soon after its “discovery” in Tokyo, and there are hopes that it will be the first Japanese film to win an award at the festival.
 
24th TIFF
Japanese Eyes, Best Picture Award
“About the Pink Sky”

Director : Keiichi Kobayashi
Producer : Hiroshi Harada / Title Design: Kiyoshi Tsuchiya / Production Manager: Syo Matsushima / Management: Norihiko Miyazaki
 
Cast :
Ai Ikeda, Ena Koshino, Reiko Fujiwara, Tsubasa Takayama, Hakusyu Togetsuan
 
2011 / Japanese / 113 min / Black & White / Stereo / HDCAM(16:9) / Production Company: michaelgion
 
Sundance Film Festival 2012 Ofiicial Site www.sundance.org/festival/
Sundance Film Festival Announces 2012 Competition Films