Film debuts in Berlinale on February 18, opens in Japan on March 6
Image via
A New Dawn film’s website
©A NEW DAWN Film Partners
Asian film distributor Neofilms announced last Friday that it will open
A New Dawn
(
Hana Rokushō ga Akeru Hi ni
), illustrator and director
Yoshitoshi Shinomiya
‘s first feature
film
, in Hong Kong on April 16.
The film will
open
in Japan on March 6. The film was originally slated to open last year, but was
delayed
to this year.
The film will have its world premiere
screening
in competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. The festival will take place between February 12-22, and the film will
screen
at the festival on February 18, 19, 20, and 22.
Shinomiya’s first feature-length directorial work centers on a 330-year-old fireworks factory that is about to be forcibly evicted. The film tells the story of young people who grew up around the factory. Keitarō has shut himself in the factory for four years to perfect the legendary “Shuhari” firework in place of his absent father. Meanwhile, his childhood friend Kaoru, who left her home due to an incident and has been living in Tokyo, visits Keitarō. In their reunion, the two hatch a surprising plan to find the secret of the long-lost firework. (The “Hana
Rokushō!
” in the title is the Paris Green pigment once used in fireworks, and a key element in the story. “Akeru” can mean “dawn” or “daybreak.”)
Riku Hagiwara
(live-action
My Beautiful Man
,
Meguru Mirai
,
Den’ei Shōjo
~Video Girl Mai 2019~
) stars in the film as Keitarō Tatewaki, alongside
Kotone Furukawa
(live-action
Yū Yū Hakusho
, Idol, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
), who plays Kaoru Shikimori. The film marks the voice acting debuts for both actors. The film will also
star
Miyu Irino
as Sentarō Tatewaki, Keitarō’s older brother and Kaoru’s childhood friend, and
Takashi Okabe
makes his voice acting debut as Eitaro Tatewaki, Keitarō’s missing father.
In addition to directing the film, Shinomiya conceived the story and wrote the script.
Utsushita
(
Heavenly Delusion
) is designing the characters.
Akiko Majima
(
Suzume
) is serving as an artist.
Shūta Hasunuma
is composing the music. The film is a joint production between
ASMIK
Ace and French studio
Miyu Productions
(
Ghost Cat Anzu
).
Singer-songwriter
imase
will perform the film’s theme
song
“Aoba” (Green Leaves).
imase
created the song specifically for this film with an arrangement by the film’s composer
Shūta Hasunuma
.
The film was featured in an animation showcase with Shinomiya introducing the work and a making-of video for the Annecy International Film Festival’s “Animation Day” in May 2024.
Shinomiya has drawn poster art for
Makoto Shinkai
‘s
The Garden of Words
film, and also drew backgrounds for that film as well as his
your name.
and
Children Who Chase Lost Voices
films. He has also drawn background art for
Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin
and
Fate/stay night
:
Unlimited Blade Works
. Shinomiya worked as a unit director on
your name.
, and directed its flashback sequence. Shinomiya provided art for
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
. He
helmed
a collaborative project that included a short anime that focused on the history of Shibuya Crossing in 2018.
Source: Neofilms’
Facebook
page
