Neo Sora
Neo Sora | |
|---|---|
_for_%22Happyend%22_post-screening_sharing.jpg) | |
| Born | 1991[1] |
| Occupations | Director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Relatives |
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Neo Sora (Japanese: 空 音央, Hepburn: Sora Neo; born 1991) is an American film director and screenwriter. He has directed the documentary feature film Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus (2023) and the narrative feature film Happyend (2024).
Early life
[edit]Sora was born to film composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and Norika Sora, Sakamoto's long-time manager, in New York, New York, and was raised in both New York and Tokyo.[2][3] Sora graduated from Friends Seminary in New York followed by Wesleyan University in Philosophy and Film Studies, schools with yearly tuition above $50,000.[4][5]
Career
[edit]Sora is a member of the filmmaking collective Zakkubalan alongside Albert Tholen and Aiko Masubuchi.[6] Sora has directed music videos for Shuta Hasunuma & U-zhaan, BIGYUKI, Rachika S and Biki Zoom, Anthony Naples, Beta Librae, Jason Moran and Dairo Suga.[7]
In 2020, Sora directed the narrative short film The Chicken which had its world premiere at the 73rd Locarno Film Festival.[8][9] It also screened at the 2020 New York Film Festival and the AFI Fest.[10][11]
In 2022, Sora directed the narrative short film Sugar Glass Bottle, which premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival.[12]
In 2023, Sora directed the documentary Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus revolving around the last concert performed by his father, Ryuichi Sakamoto, which had its world premiere at the 80th Venice Film Festival.[13] The film was released in March 2024 by Janus Films.[14][15]
In 2024, Sora wrote and directed Happyend which had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section.[16] It also made its North American premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and screened in the Main Slate of the 62nd New York Film Festival.[17][18] It was previously selected for the 2022 Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing labs.[19] In 2025, he was given the 2024 Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for Happyend.[20]
In 2025, Sora wrote and directed the short film A Very Straight Neck starring Sakura Ando, having its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival.[21]
Filmography
[edit]Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Chicken | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 | Sugar Glass Bottle | Yes | Yes |
| 2025 | A Very Straight Neck | Yes | Yes |
Documentary film
- Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus (2023)
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Happyend | Yes | Yes |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Neo Sora". Infra Magazine. June 21, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Nguyen, Kevin (March 16, 2024). "Ryuichi Sakamoto's last performance is his son's first feature film". The Verge. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "About". Neo Sora. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Friends Seminary's Post, March 11, 2010". Facebook.
- ↑ "25 Faces of Independent Film: Neo Sora". Filmmaker. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "About". Zakkubalan. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Works". Neo Sora. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Hopewell, John; Lang, Jamie (August 10, 2020). "10 Short Films Not to Miss at Locarno Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Bacon, Redmond. "The Best Short Films of the Locarno Film Festival". Directors Notes. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Bittencourt, Ela (September 21, 2020). "What Not to Miss at the 2020 New York Film Festival". Hyperallergic. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "AFI FEST 2020 presented by Audi Full Lineup Announced". AFI Fest. October 6, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Sugar Glass Bottle". Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (September 5, 2023). "Spirit Of Ryuichi Sakamoto Returns To Venice With Concert Film 'Opus'; Director Son Neo Sora Talks Composer's Love Of Cinema & Complex Relationship With Piano". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Barraclough, Leo (September 25, 2023). "Venice Standout Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus Sells to Janus Films in North America Ahead of New York Film Festival Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Gilchrist, Todd (March 15, 2024). "'Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus' Director Neo Sora on Filming His Father's Final Performance". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (July 23, 2024). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker: Folie à Deux', Almodovar, Guadagnino, Kurzel, Larrain & More In Competition – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (August 6, 2024). "'Presence,' Cannes Favorites 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' and 'To a Land Unknown' Join TIFF Centrepiece Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ "62nd New York Film Festival Main Slate Announced". Film at Lincoln Center. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Sundance Institute Announces 2022 Fellows for Directors, Screenwriters and Native Labs". Sundance Institute. May 9, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ↑ "日本映画監督協会新人賞に「ＨＡＰＰＹＥＮＤ」空音央監督". 福岡新聞Digital. April 24, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ Ntim, Zac (July 1, 2025). "Locarno Sets Short & Medium Length Competition Titles, Neo Sora & Salvatore Mereu To Debut New Works". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 8, 2025.