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Okinawa Studies Research Guide: Films

This guide to introduce you to resources on contemporary Okinawan issues.

Related Organizations & Institutions

Photo of the Okinawa Film Festival 島ぜんぶでおーきな祭(さい)©OCVB

Okinawa Film Office           (English / Japanese)
  • Provides support and information to filmmakers who are looking to use Okinawa as a film location. 
  • Provides support both domestic and foreign filmmakers (e.g. South Korea, China and other Asian countries. 
  • Promote the image of Okinawa
  • Promote tourism and vitalization of the prefecture.
  • E-brochures are available.
Okinawa Prefectural Archives | 沖縄県立公文書館 (Japanese)
  • Provides more than 200 digitized footage taken during and after the war
Cinema Okinawa | シネマ沖縄    (Japanese)
Okinawa Cinema Society | 沖縄映画研究会 (English "About Us" / Japanese)
  • Society members include film researchers and wide film circles to research and promote Okinawan films
  • Hold regular film screenings and symposiums on Okinawan films
Cinema Lab Tokkan-Kozo | NPO法人シネマラボ突貫小僧    (Japanese)
Okinawa Archives Laboratory | 沖縄アーカイブ研究所    (Japanese)
  • Provides digitized collections of movies shot on 8mm films between the 1950s through early 1970s
  • The 8 films were shot by ordinary people and showcase the daily life of Okinawa in the post-war era

Film Festivals in Okinawa

島ぜんぶでおーきな祭(Former Okinawa International Movie Festival | 旧沖縄国際映画祭) (Japanese)

A well-known Japanese comedy entertainment company Yoshimoto Kogyo, started in 2009 as 沖縄国際映画祭. This film festival focuses on comedy films in Japan as well as around the world. In 2015, the festival name was changed to 島ぜんぶでおーきな祭.


こども国際映画祭in沖縄  KIFFO (Japanese

Starting in 2013 in Naha City, the Kodomo International Film Festival in Okinawa (KIFFO) shows three films (one from Japan) during the three-day festival. Ms. Takao Mihayara, the festival director, film director, producer, and writer, has won the Best Film Award and the Best Director Award at The Asian Festival of First Films.


Cinema at Sea - 沖縄環太平洋国際フィルムフェスティバル | Cinema at Sea- Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival (English / Japanese)

Cinema at Sea began in November 2023, and over a few days, the festival shines a light on films from the Pan-Pacific region to East Asian audiences. The festival program includes a Pacific Film Competition, Director in Focus, Pacific Islands Showcase, Japan Islands Showcase, ”Mabui Special Award” Screenings, VR Screenings, and other special screenings. 

Recent Acquisition on Films

Film Directors

How to find Japanese film directors:

  • 協同組合 日本映画監督協会 / Directors Guild of Japan (English / Japan) with 会員名簿 (Members Directory)
  • 沖縄県立博物館・美術館 / Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum Artists Directory (Choose 映像 for search.)

Several directors have made films in or about Okinawa. Some are from Okinawa and some are not. Here is the short list of those directors and their prominent works.

Lists of Okinawan Films and TV Dramas

Okinawa Film Office    (English / Japanese)​

List of the feature films, short films, and documentaries supported by the Okinawa Film Office

Okinawa Cinema Society / 沖縄映画研究会 (English "About Us" / Japanese)

List of all the films and TV dramas set and filmed in Okinawa since 2018

Movie Theaters in Okinawa

1) Sakurazaka Gekijyo / 桜坂劇場 (Naha City, Okinawa)

2) STAR THEATERS (6 theaters in Okinawa)

3) UNITED CINEMAS PARCO CITY / ユナイティッド・シネマ パルコシティー浦添 (Urasoe, Okinawa)

4) Yoshimoto Minami no shima Panipani Cinema / よしもと南の島 パニパニシネマ (Miyakojima, Okinawa)

5) Yui Road Theater / ゆいロードシアター (Ishigaki City, Okinawa)

Open-Access Resources

Okinawa Film Office, Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB)

Okinawa Film Office presents twelve short films from Okinawa. 

The Okinawa Film Competition
  1. Treasure Hunt / わたしの宝もの (2018 Film Tourism Promotion Project Short Film Production/平成28年度フィルムツーリズム推進事業 短編映画制作)
  2. Rumah / ルマ (平成26年度フィルムツーリズム推進事業 短編映画制作)
  3. The Path of Kumiodori / うんじゅぬ花道 (5th Okinawa Film Competition)
  4. Indigo Love / 愛と藍 (4th Okinawa Film Competition)
  5. The Deer In Me / 僕と明日香の島歩き (3rd Okinawa Film Competition)
  6. Mother of the Groom / ニービチの条件  (2nd Okinawa Film Competition)
  7. Rose Balsom / ウムイヌ花 (2nd Okinawa Film Competition)
  8. GOAT-WALKING / やぎの散歩 (1st Okinawa Film Competition)
  9. Harusa - People who love farming / ハルサー愛 (1st Okinawa Film Competition)
  10. Ti-da mail / ディーダめーる (1st Okinawa Film Competition)
Ryugo Nakamura’s Official YouTube Channel 'RYU-GOAT'

「ゆしぐとぅ」 (2016)

「The island's will」 (2018)


2018年 沖縄県北中城村地域発信型映画

Kitanaka Sketch (2018)


第9回沖縄国際映画祭U-25映像コンペティション(オーバーエイジ枠) 優秀賞

「君がいるから」2016

Open-Access Documentaries

Science Film Museum Incorporated NPO / NPO法人科学映像館    (English / Japanese)

Various old films on The Battle of Okinawa, Okinawan nature, and traditional culture are available.

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 Search words: 沖縄, 琉球, シネマ沖縄

 

 

Examples:

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