AWAKENING

A boy walks through the city.
Rain falls. Trains pass. Sparks fly.
Somewhere between silence and noise, something begins to awaken.

  • Minoru Kaburagi
    Director
  • Minoru Kaburagi
    Writer
  • Minoru Kaburagi
    Producer
  • SOTA
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 27, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Japan
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    No Dialogue
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Minoru Kaburagi

Minoru Kaburagi is a Japanese photographer and filmmaker based in Tokyo.

After working as a hairstylist in his early career, he moved to New York, where he spent ten years working as an advertising photographer. Since returning to Japan, he has photographed campaigns for international fashion and commercial brands while developing a personal filmmaking practice.

His recent films explore themes of time, memory, family, and human presence. Through quiet observation and minimal narratives, he seeks to capture moments that often pass unnoticed in everyday life.

His works have been selected and awarded at international film festivals, including Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival and Berlin Indie Film Festival.

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Director Statement

I am interested in the moments between action and stillness.

My films are often built from simple gestures: walking, waiting, looking, remembering. Rather than telling viewers what to feel, I try to create a space where they can observe and discover their own emotions.

As a photographer, I spent many years searching for a single frame that could express a story. Filmmaking has expanded that search into time itself.

Through my work, I continue to explore memory, absence, family, and the traces people leave behind. I am drawn to the quiet moments that reveal something essential about being alive.