RESETTLEMENT - CHICAGO STORY
narrative, 16min, 2023
Several years after the U.S. government’s forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, the Yamamoto family runs a struggling dry-cleaning business in Chicago.
Produced by Full Spectrum Features
Screenings
Chicago History Museum
Seattle Asian American Film Festival
Nichi-Bei Foundation’s Films of Remembrance, San Francisco
Nichi-Bei Foundation’s Films of Remembrance, San Jose
UC Santa Cruz Night at the Museum
Teacher Workshop with Facing History & Ourselves
Watsonville Film Festival
DisOrient Film Festival
New Jersey International Film Festival, NJ (Honorable Mention and Festival Director’s Citation for Performance)
FROG CATCHER
narrative, 18min, 2020
In 1876 San Francisco, when the law prohibits women from wearing trousers, a frog catcher known as a “man-woman” develops a mutual attraction with the wife of a powerful businessman. Inspired by a true story.
festivals
KCET Fine Cut Festival (Finalist)
Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers (JAAP) Award for Creative Excellence
Filmschoolfest Munich
Oslo Fusion International Film Festival
LesGaiCineMad, Madrid International LGBTI Film Festival
Gilbert Baker Film Festival (Best Short Award)
Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Way OUT Film Fest
Outsouth Queer Film Festival
image+nation Montreal Queer Short Film Festival
Roze Filmdagen Amsterdam LGBTQ Film Festival (Audience Award Best Mix Short)
fellowship/grants
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Directing Fellowship
Caucus Foundation Grant
Panavision New Filmmaker Grant
THE NIGHT
narrative, 16min, 2019
Two male students and one female student each recount their story of an incident from the night before to detectives who search for the truth.
Cast Robert Arriaga, Isaac Ramsey, Kate Schott, Rogelio Douglas III, Su Castillo
Director Lia Lenart
Writer Reina Higashitani
Producer Selena Leoni
Cinematographer Xiang He
Editor Marnie Salvani
Production Designer Madie Hays
Costume Designer Haley Silver
STRINGS
narrative, 12min, 2018
When a high school teacher reaches out to her troubled new student through music, their relationship takes an unexpected turn.
awards/grants
Jack Nicholson Distinguished Student Director Award
National Association of Theatre Owners of California/Nevada Fellowship in Film
LOVE STORY OF A COOK
narrative, web series concept, 2017
An ambitious chef applies for a job to recreate a memory for a company executive by cooking from recipes that are left in her possession.
cast Beth Lane, Dane Oliver, Mitch Bradford
director/writer Reina Higashitani
cinematographer Lesley Elizondo
VETERANS DAY
narrative, 8min, 2016
An elderly WWII veteran gets invited to speak at an elementary school, but his past doesn’t leave him alone.
cast Larry Lederman, Matthew Ryan Michaels, Sionne Elise Tollefsrud, Jayeden Eastaugh, Hajime Araki, Faith Stafford, Allyssa Bainbridge
director/writer Reina Higashitani
scholarship
Linda and Jay Sandrich Scholarship
SHALL WE SING?
documentary, 57min, 2006
A group of Japanese businessmen living in New York bound by their love for singing.
director/camera Reina Higashitani
editor Naomi Mizoguchi
broadcast
PBS (USA) and KTV (Japan)
festivals/awards
Tokyo Video Festival’s Excellence Award and People’s Award
Connecticut Film Festival Audience Award
Montreal International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA)
Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
Little Rock Film Festival
Boulder Asian Film Festival
Japan Society New York Japan Cuts Festival