Hirobumi Watanabe

Hirobumi Watanabe, a beacon of independent Japanese cinema, was born in 1982 in Tochigi, Japan, and has been actively directing films since 2013. Known for his minimalist black-and-white style, his films predominantly belong to drama and comedy genres, with his most acclaimed works being "Poolsideman" (2016) and "Cry" (2020). Despite not having a significant presence at major film festivals, Watanabe has garnered praise in smaller circuits, earning the Japanese Cinema Splash Best Picture award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for "Poolsideman".

Watanabe, with his unpretentious and down-to-earth approach to filmmaking, has the unique ability to transform ordinary life into profound cinematic experiences.