Atsuhiko Watanabe
| Biography
A graduate of Le Fresnoy, Studio National des Arts Contemporains (France) and the Institute of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies at the University of Tokyo, Atsuhiko Watanabe makes films inspired by contemporary theater, choreographic works and electronic music.
Among his main works, the following should be noted “A, (2001)”, dance video made in collaboration with Mariko Aoyama, a Japanese choreographer and former dancer of Pina Bausch, presented at the Mori-Yu Gallery in Kyoto, at “Art in Casa Osaka” 2001, and the re-edited version, “Adagio” (2002) selected at the Festival Vidéo Forme of Clermont-Ferrand 2023.
His two short films produced with the support of the Fresnoy and the French Ministry of Culture, “Alienation (2003)”, selected at 56th Locarno International Film Festival 2003, and “Resonance of Tears” (2004), selected in competition at 34th International Film Festival Rotterdam 2005, which received the Jury Special Prize at 8th Short Shorts Film Festival Tokyo 2006, and was invited to 29th International Short Film Festival of Clermont-Ferrand 2007.
In July 2014, he directed the video-scenography for the play “L’Echange” by Paul Claudel, in a mise en scène by Jean Christophe Blondel, created at the Festival Villeneuve en scène (tour in France in 2014-2015).
He also directed a portrait documentary, for NHK-BS1 television, focusing on a French charismatic editor, Jean-Louis Gauthey working for the most perfect re-edition of the Japanese manga legend Shigeru Mizuki winning the Best Album Award at Angouleme International Comics Festival, and other documentaries about the Japan Tour of Paris Opera Ballet with Angelin Preljocaj’s piece, for Japanese TV, WOWOW.
Since 1997, he writes articles as a critic on dance and opera for the Japanese magazine “Dance Magazine Japan”.
His “Essay on Jean Kalman–Interactions between mise-en-scène and lighting design” was published in the series “Discourse of Representation” (Tokyo University Press, 2000).
He was a member of the Jury of the MIMOS Festival (Périgueux, France) in 1999 and 2000. In 2008-2016, he was an Associate Professor as well as Director of the Department of Cinema at Tokyo Zokei University, working with a renowned filmmaker, Nobuhiro Suwa as its president, in Japan.
His recent work on dance, “Hannah O’Neill, Première danseuse of Paris Opera Ballet” (running time: 50 min) was broadcast in September 2019 then rebroadcast in May 2020 and July 2023 on the Japanese TV channel, WOWOW. It is a documentary film about Hannah O’Neill, finally named “Danseuse Étoile” in March 2023, of the Paris Opera Ballet.
Since the time of Paris Lockdown, he has made three experimental animated short films in which he has worked entirely on his own, from the visuals to the music.
The first one, “HORROR” has been officially selected for sixteen international film festivals, including Kiev Film Festival 2021 (Best Experimental Film), NewFilmmakers New York 2021 and The Fine Arts Film Festival Los Angeles 2021. The second opus, “SUBJECTILE” (2021) was selected as “Best Animated Short Film” and “Special Jury Prize for Best Experimental Film” at International Motion Picture Film Festival of India 2021 as well as at other international film festivals.
His third animated short film “THANATOS” (2021) was initially selected at the 16th Cyprus International Film Festival 2021 (Honorable Mention). It also gained recognition at 75th Salerno International Film Festival 2021 and 10th Mumbai International Short Film Festival 2021. The film was honored with the Best Animated Short Film Award at the Stockholm Short Film Festival in 2022. This film has so far been selected for and has won awards at over 40 international film festivals, including Wallachia International Film Festival 2022 (Best Experimental Short Film), 18th Athens ANIMFEST 2023 (2nd Prize/Experimental Competition), Beijing International Short Film Festival 2022, and 40th Asolo Art Film Festival 2023.
Atsuhiko’s new short film, titled “TELOS” (2022), is an attempt to explore new frontiers in narrative film by focusing on the interaction between contemporary dance and cinematic directions. By eliminating the need for pantomime explanation, he aims to convey the heroine’s psychology, haunted by the temptation of death, through the abstract contemporary dance choreography.
Several accomplished experts in their respective fields collaborate with Atsuhiko on this innovative project. Shihya Peng, a Taiwanese dancer and choreographer celebrated for her performances in Paris and Europe, including the Edinburgh Festival, plays a significant role in the creative process. French cinematographer Boris Carretté, a previous collaborator with Atsuhiko on a documentary about the Paris Opera Ballet, contributes his expertise as a key team member. The talented crew is further enriched by Alexandre Bouvier, a French music composer known for his collaborations with various contemporary dance companies in France, as well as his work with the world-renowned digital art collective Visual System.
In 2023, this film won the Best Experimental Film Award at the Paris International Short Festival and has been selected at various international festivals, including 12th Cambodia International Film Festival, 28th VideoDanzaBA International Festival, The B3 Festival of the Moving Image (Short Film Competition) at B3Biennale, and 6th TANZAHOi International Festival for Dance.
| Biography
A graduate of Le Fresnoy, Studio National des Arts Contemporains (France) and the Institute of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies at the University of Tokyo, Atsuhiko Watanabe makes films inspired by contemporary theater, choreographic works and electronic music.
Among his main works, the following should be noted “A, (2001)”, dance video made in collaboration with Mariko Aoyama, a Japanese choreographer and former dancer of Pina Bausch, presented at the Mori-Yu Gallery in Kyoto, at “Art in Casa Osaka” 2001, and the re-edited version, “Adagio” (2002) selected at the Festival Vidéo Forme of Clermont-Ferrand 2023.
His two short films produced with the support of the Fresnoy and the French Ministry of Culture, “Alienation (2003)”, selected at 56th Locarno International Film Festival 2003, and “Resonance of Tears” (2004), selected in competition at 34th International Film Festival Rotterdam 2005, which received the Jury Special Prize at 8th Short Shorts Film Festival Tokyo 2006, and was invited to 29th International Short Film Festival of Clermont-Ferrand 2007.
In July 2014, he directed the video-scenography for the play “L’Echange” by Paul Claudel, in a mise en scène by Jean Christophe Blondel, created at the Festival Villeneuve en scène (tour in France in 2014-2015).
He also directed a portrait documentary, for NHK-BS1 television, focusing on a French charismatic editor, Jean-Louis Gauthey working for the most perfect re-edition of the Japanese manga legend Shigeru Mizuki winning the Best Album Award at Angouleme International Comics Festival, and other documentaries about the Japan Tour of Paris Opera Ballet with Angelin Preljocaj’s piece, for Japanese TV, WOWOW.
Since 1997, he writes articles as a critic on dance and opera for the Japanese magazine “Dance Magazine Japan”.
His “Essay on Jean Kalman–Interactions between mise-en-scène and lighting design” was published in the series “Discourse of Representation” (Tokyo University Press, 2000).
He was a member of the Jury of the MIMOS Festival (Périgueux, France) in 1999 and 2000. In 2008-2016, he was an Associate Professor as well as Director of the Department of Cinema at Tokyo Zokei University, working with a renowned filmmaker, Nobuhiro Suwa as its president, in Japan.
His recent work on dance, “Hannah O’Neill, Première danseuse of Paris Opera Ballet” (running time: 50 min) was broadcast in September 2019 then rebroadcast in May 2020 and July 2023 on the Japanese TV channel, WOWOW. It is a documentary film about Hannah O’Neill, finally named “Danseuse Étoile” in March 2023, of the Paris Opera Ballet.
Since the time of Paris Lockdown, he has made three experimental animated short films in which he has worked entirely on his own, from the visuals to the music.
The first one, “HORROR” has been officially selected for sixteen international film festivals, including Kiev Film Festival 2021 (Best Experimental Film), NewFilmmakers New York 2021 and The Fine Arts Film Festival Los Angeles 2021. The second opus, “SUBJECTILE” (2021) was selected as “Best Animated Short Film” and “Special Jury Prize for Best Experimental Film” at International Motion Picture Film Festival of India 2021 as well as at other international film festivals.
His third animated short film “THANATOS” (2021) was initially selected at the 16th Cyprus International Film Festival 2021 (Honorable Mention). It also gained recognition at 75th Salerno International Film Festival 2021 and 10th Mumbai International Short Film Festival 2021. The film was honored with the Best Animated Short Film Award at the Stockholm Short Film Festival in 2022. This film has so far been selected for and has won awards at over 40 international film festivals, including Wallachia International Film Festival 2022 (Best Experimental Short Film), 18th Athens ANIMFEST 2023 (2nd Prize/Experimental Competition), Beijing International Short Film Festival 2022, and 40th Asolo Art Film Festival 2023.
Atsuhiko’s new short film, titled “TELOS” (2022), is an attempt to explore new frontiers in narrative film by focusing on the interaction between contemporary dance and cinematic directions. By eliminating the need for pantomime explanation, he aims to convey the heroine’s psychology, haunted by the temptation of death, through the abstract contemporary dance choreography.
Several accomplished experts in their respective fields collaborate with Atsuhiko on this innovative project. Shihya Peng, a Taiwanese dancer and choreographer celebrated for her performances in Paris and Europe, including the Edinburgh Festival, plays a significant role in the creative process. French cinematographer Boris Carretté, a previous collaborator with Atsuhiko on a documentary about the Paris Opera Ballet, contributes his expertise as a key team member. The talented crew is further enriched by Alexandre Bouvier, a French music composer known for his collaborations with various contemporary dance companies in France, as well as his work with the world-renowned digital art collective Visual System.
In 2023, this film won the Best Experimental Film Award at the Paris International Short Festival and has been selected at various international festivals, including 12th Cambodia International Film Festival, 28th VideoDanzaBA International Festival, The B3 Festival of the Moving Image (Short Film Competition) at B3Biennale, and 6th TANZAHOi International Festival for Dance.
