Shiun Okada graduated from the Film Production program at the University of British Columbia. He is an emerging filmmaker with an eye for cinematography. For over a decade, his goal is to be a Director of Photography with a small interest in Directing. His background, however, began from the technical side of film—learning the specifics of camera and lighting technologies, as well as visual effects. Through the creations in visual effects work, he continued to try and refine the art of visually capturing and creating an image to learn to be a better storyteller. Shiun is a 2nd-generation Japanese Canadian who now works to investigate the human psyche and its influences it has on our mental health while using this non-western lens in his body of works.
Yuko Masaki graduated in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. As a second-generation Japanese Canadian, she focuses her studies on aspects of Japanese culture in order to better understand herself and her heritage. Her interests specifically lie in food and how traditions around food are formed and maintained. “Wish You Were Here” is her directorial and screenwriting debut.
After planning their trip to Japan, Miya and Haru discover that they are no longer able to go due to the pandemic. Miya decides to recreate the Japanese experience from the comfort of their home and drags Haru along with her.
Wish You Were Here was produced as part of the Mighty Asian Movie Marathon and we're so happy to have the opportunity to screen it this year!