About us

Kowatanda films was founded by Anshul Chauhan and Mina Moteki in Tokyo in 2016. Their journey began with two single-location short films, "SOAP" and "What's Left of Us" both produced in the same year. The subsequent year saw the completion of their longer short film, "Kawaguchi 4256" which served as a blueprint for their first feature film, "Bad Poetry Tokyo," released in 2017. Starting with winning grand prix at the Brussels International film festival, the film went on to win numerous accolades at international film festivals, solidifying Kowatanda's reputation as a rising talent. Finally, in January 2020, "Bad Poetry Tokyo" had its theatrical release in Japan, distributed by Uzumasa.

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In 2018, Kowatanda Films embarked on the development of their second feature film, "Kontora". This captivating black-and-white film revolves around a mysterious stranger walking backward, aiding a high school girl in uncovering her grandfather's past. "Kontora" was completed in April 2019 and premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in November of the same year, where it achieved tremendous success by winning the Grand Prix and Best Music awards in the main competition category. This historic win marked the first time a Japanese film received the Grand Prix at PÖFF. Subsequently, "Kontora" received further recognition, including the Best Actor award at the Osaka Asian Film Festival and the Best Film Obayashi Prize at Japan Cuts 2020.

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In late 2021, Kowatanda Films initiated the production of their latest venture, "DECEMBER" a compelling re-trial courtroom drama in collaboration with Yaman Films. The film made its world premiere at the esteemed Busan International Film Festival in 2022 and earned a nomination for the prestigious Kim Ji-seok Award. "DECEMBER" was released in theaters in Japan on March 18, 2023, and subsequently premiered at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy. The film is also scheduled for premieres in Spain, America, and Germany.

Looking ahead, Kowatanda Films is excited to join forces with Yaman Films once again for their upcoming romantic drama set in the beautiful Ishigaki Islands of Okinawa. Filming is scheduled to commence in early 2024.