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Shinto: The Way of The Kami

PROJECT STATUS: Postproduction - Color Grading and Sound Design.

A medium length documentary film for film festivals.

“Shinto: The Way of The Kami” film universe aims to bring Shinto, the Japanese philosophy of life, closer to the audience. This unique philosophy is based on gratitude, commitment and deep connection to the kami - the energy of nature.

Kami are manifestations of the interconnecting energy of the universe. Usually hidden from this world, they inhabit a complementary existence that mirrors our own. Sometimes we can feel them in the elements of landscape or forces of nature. When you reach a harmony with awe-inspiring aspects of nature, then you are conscious of the way of the kami.

  • Hiroko Takayama
    Key Cast
    "Shinto Priestess"
  • Noriko Takayama
    Key Cast
    "Shinto Priestess"
  • Kazu Tamura
    Key Cast
    "Shinto Priest"
  • Tom Sajewski
    Director
    Paralysis
  • Tom Sajewski
    Writer
    Paralysis
  • Tom Sajewski
    Producer
    Paralysis
  • Tom Sajewski
    Director of Photography
    Paralysis
  • Paweł Klepacz
    Editor
    Paralysis, Summa
  • Agnieszka Wołejko
    Supervising Sound Editor / Sound Designer
  • Agnieszka Wołejko
    Music
  • Daniel de la Rosa Oliva
    Additional Music
  • Tom Sajewski
    Production Manager
    Paralysis
  • Stanisław Szymański
    Artistic Supervisor
  • Co-Producer
    Dora Laszlo-Gulyas
  • Paweł Klepacz
    Executive Producer
  • Tom Sajewski
    Camera Operator
  • Babak Tafreshi
    Additional Camera Operator (Night Sky Shots)
  • Tom Sajewski
    Color Grading
    Paralysis
  • Tom Sajewski
    Visual Effects
    Paralysis
  • Agnieszka Wołejko
    5.1 Sound Mixer
  • Agnieszka Wołejko
    2.0 Sound Mixer
  • Paweł Klepacz
    Location Sound Recordist
  • Bruce Haendel
    1st Assistant Director
  • Dora Laszlo-Gulyas
    Script Consultation
  • Richard Berkeley
    Assistant Production Manager
  • Bartosz Cymbalista
    Assistant Production Manager
  • Wojciech "Archi" Klich
    Location Manager
  • Tom Sajewski
    Data Wrangler
    Paralysis
  • Tom Sajewski
    Conforming
    Paralysis
  • Tom Sajewski
    DCP Mastering
    Paralysis
  • Maciej Iwanowski
    Japanese Translator
  • Aleksandra Hładyn
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Aleksandra Lenartowicz
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Aneta Anna Szczudlik
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Artur Efemberg
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Martyna Wolska
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Przemysław Rozwadowski
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Roma Relena Łęcka
    Additional Japanese Translator
  • Chihei Nishio
    Japanese Script
  • Tom Sajewski
    English Version
    Paralysis
  • Maciej Iwanowski
    Japanese Version
  • Tom Sajewski
    Polish Version
    Paralysis
  • Maciej Iwanowski
    Polish Version
  • Sylwia Spodobalska
    Spanish Version
  • Thorsten Bauer
    German Version
  • Karl Bynature
    French Version
  • Laura Neirotti
    Italian Version
  • Adam Dobay
    Hungarian Version
  • Ebro Armaturem
    Additional Funding by
  • Ebro Trade
    Additional Funding by
  • Büsch
    Additional Funding by
  • Auma
    Additional Funding by
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    37 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 15, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    Poland
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2,39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Mount Fuji International Film Festival
    Sendai
    Japan
    July 26, 2021
    Asian Premiere
    Best Japanese Documentary Film
  • Roma Short Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    August 7, 2021
    Italian Premiere
    Best Short Documentary award
  • Mlodzi i Film
    Koszalin
    Poland
    June 15, 2021
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Roma Short Film Festival
    Rome
    Italy
    August 7, 2021
    Italian Premiere
    Official Selection in Best Cinematography category
Director Biography - Tom Sajewski

https://filmfreeway.com/TomSajewski

Currently, I develop “Shinto: The Way of The Kami” film universe, which will consist of several short and medium-length documentary films, and possibly feature-length documentary film in future. This collection of films will focus on describing Shinto – the Japanese philosophy of life. Each film – video art, short online film, film for festivals and film for television – is aimed at different audience.

My film, “Paralysis” (2017), has been officially selected for inclusion in film festivals about 60 times and has won 15 awards, including Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Special Mention. For “Shinto: Musashi-Itsukaichi Festival” (2019), I received Best Theme, Best Concept and Fan Award.

I am interested in technological advancements, but at the same time I am fascinated by nature and human stories. I try to tell them using modern film techniques.

Selected filmography:
• Shinto: The Way of The Kami (2021) – Documentary, medium-length
• In/Off (2019) – Documentary, short subject
• Paralysis (2017) – Fiction, Short subject
• Wooden Rifles (2017) – Documentary, short subject

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Director Statement

From an early age, I was fascinated by Japanese culture and pop-culture. During my last two visits to Japan (in 2010 and 2017), I noticed that their native philosophy, Shinto, has influence over nearly every aspect of the country, from culture to everyday life. I decided to create several films about that philosophy. A philosophy which has such an amazing influence on life in a country that interests me.

I have always liked spending time in natural environments. However, only when I started filming this project, did I realize that there may be some deeper connection between us and nature. This connection became even more apparent to me – and I believe to all of us – during these days of the pandemic, when it was so suddenly broken and people were put on lockdown.