OUTLINE

Lying 400km to the south-west of Okinawa, Ishigaki island has developed its exceptional history and culture over the centuries. As a matter of fact, of all the islands in the south of Okinawa, not one is said to have evolved in the same way; each having created its own individual identity.

“Yugafu” is an old Okinawan word for “good fortune, peaceful and prosperous time”. Our film festival has the word “Yugafu” in its Japanese title as it is one of the festival’s fundamental values. Among all the Okinawan islands with complex history, Ishigaki inherited the most diversity of ethnic identities. It is from this island that we aim to connect the minorities and the culture of islands all over the world.

As the word “culture” originally means cultivating the soil and raising crops, the Ishigaki International Film Festival started with the aim of enriching its cultural ground by expanding the horizon through the power of films. Encountering different ideas and ways to express would surely develop people’s mindset to embrace diversity. Discovering the fascination of mesmerizing stories might open the door for creativity or simply indulging in the world of movies is also enough.

We would be happy if your experiences at the film festival helped cultivating a rich field beyond borders and cultural differences.

4 principles that support
this film festival