Keisuke Sakuma
Welcome to My Comedic Dystopia.
Tokyo Based Writer/DirectorBorn and raised in Nagoya, Japan. Moved to U.S. at the age of fifteen and spent four years of high school in Pennsylvania. After returning to Japan, entered Waseda University and began making films. In his second year of college, he wrote and starred in the film "Sansangogo," which won the Grand Prix and the Audience Award in the U-25 category at the 2015 Okinawa International Film Festival. The following year, with funding from the festival, he produced the film "Hana wa dai dai dai", which was officially invited to the Okinawa International Film Festival. The same year, he studied filmmaking at Florida State University. Not only as a filmmaker, but also as an actor, he played the lead role in "Good People," the graduation project of the Florida State University Film School. After studying abroad, he worked for a film distribution company, where he was involved in publicity work for a variety of films, both Japanese and foreign. He later became an independent film director and writer, directing short films, corporate videos and documentary series.
Innocent (In All Senses) - Short Film
2020 / 10minutes / Experimental Thriller
Logline
A man collects rocks by a river. One day, a boy asks the man for the rock. He refuses as he hides his unique secret with rocks.
Director's Statement
I made this film "Innocent (In All Senses)" in order to deepen my thoughts regarding to desires. Us, humans are all driven by desires. It is a source of our actions, will, motivations. Although any desires are equally innocent (as we do not have any power to regulate their inceptions), some desires are considered to be more unacceptable than the others. For example, some people can only fill their sexual desires by peeping others' lives. Some reach to ecstasy by watching their partner having sexual actions with another man. Such desires are not warmly welcomed in our society we live in nowadays, but again, regardless of good or bad, their uncontrollability are no different from other desires. As I created this film, I wanted to question people who watch this film about their perspective towards their hidden desires and also, I wanted to put some time to consider my own thoughts as well. I hope this film can help people look at themselves in a different angle than they used to look at.
2021 / 32minutes / Comedy Drama
Logline
A lady who has a habit of making funny faces when talking to people, meets a girl with another peculiar habit.
Director's Statement
The film "Funny" is inspired by my very personal experience. Back when I was a college student, I was diagnosed as having depression. I was relieved by getting the “name” because I felt as the others could accept my depressive state. I felt as I finally gained an indulgence to be depressed. but I came to realize it might not be healthy for us to always wanting someone to label ourselves. Ideally, we can be sad as much as we want when we feel down regardless of labels. If we can be more honest to our emotions, I suppose we can live happier than before. This movie embodies my very personal wish to this world.
TAMA NEW WAVE Competition (Nominated)
Hong Kong International Short Film Festival (Nominated)
Nippon Connection (Nominated)
Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival (Market Picks)
Audience Award & Best Actress Award at Richmond International Film Festival
Funny - Short Film
Eatversity - Short Film
2022 / 23minutes / Comedy Thriller
Logline
A man with cat ears discovers the absurd truth of this world at the mysterious fusion restaurant.
Director's Statement
Today, many human rights issues are discussed. People are confronting their own righteousness every day in an attempt to create a society that respects diversity, but many people today seem to have lost sight of the true nature of these issues. People often think, "Because he/she is a minority, he/she must have a pitiful past," or "This person is in a weaker position in society and should be respected more than others”. Sometimes we get caught up in the nature of the other person and lose sight of the individual. Now is the time for us to realize the reality of our society in order to achieve a world where people are respected equally in the true sense.
Defy Film Festival （Nominated)
West Sound Film Festival (Nominated)
Won Best Short Film at Liberty Film Festival
Vancouver Asian Film Festival (Nominated)
Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles Hollywood (Nominated)