PEELING, 17min,. Japan
Directed by Ryusei Emi
The main character Shiori, who struggles with her own identity, one day visits a women's sex club. She has a secret that she cannot tell anyone and is afraid of being rejected, so she has a hard time exposing herself. With the help of her therapist, Takeru, she peels away her insecurities and fears.

Get to know producer Miho Suzuki:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to burn onto the screen "the exact moment we peel back to our true selves." There is pain in living beneath the weight of family and social expectations, yet an exhilarating catharsis when that shell finally cracks. My starting point was to let viewers experience that contrast through visuals set against near-silence. The dim, cocoon-like hotel room versus the faint stirrings of an unrestful heart—elements noted in the review—grew from that impulse.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The first idea came in August 2023; post-production finished in January 2025—about 18 months in total.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

"Peeling / Silence"

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Designing sound for the almost-silent scenes—capturing heartbeats and even the rustle of fabric.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

My heart swelled. A tiny idea born in a corner of Tokyo had crossed the ocean and touched so many people—that fact moved me deeply. In Japan, indie short films rarely get screen time, let alone fair evaluation. That's why the warm feedback and this award instantly compensated for every hardship we endured during production; it was the greatest reward imaginable.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Japan's nightlife has fostered a unique sexual-service culture. Desire may be openly affirmed there, yet in mainstream society a powerful demand for conformity still reigns, leaving almost no space for people to speak their authentic selves. That two-layered reality has always unsettled me. I want to visualize, through image and sound, the odd coexistence of places where desire can be voiced freely and everyday lives where people pretend to be "normal," along with the loneliness and hope of those who live between them. That is my driving force as a filmmaker.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Spike Jonze's "Her."

Its minimalist portrayal of the space between loneliness and connection amazes me every time.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

A multilingual subtitle–data exchange platform: Sharing translation resources among low-budget indies would lower the barrier to overseas screenings.Audience-creator mentoring sessions: Direct storytelling feedback from general viewers would be an invaluable opportunity.

9. What is your favorite meal?

Yes—currently in pre-production. The working title is "COCOON."

10. What is next for you? A new film?

Its theme is how to embrace the true self left exposed after "PEELING." A 90-minute feature: from a quiet hotel room the protagonist steps into the wider world—an urban night awash with diverse lights and sounds—on a road-movie-style journey to reclaim their own voice.