Itako is an award-winning filmmaker from Japan. She is best known for her feature films and documentaries that have been screened in festivals around the world.
Itako was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1975. She attended the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts where she studied film. After graduating, she moved to New York City to pursue her career in film. Her first feature, A Stranger in Tokyo, was released in 2007 and garnered critical acclaim. The film won several international film awards and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Itako continued to make films, including documentaries, that explored different themes. Her documentary, The Sky Above Us, focused on the effects of climate change on her home country of Japan. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
In addition to her feature films, Itako also directed music videos and commercials. She directed a music video for the Japanese pop star Utada Hikaru which won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.
Itako's most recent feature film, My Father's Garden, was released in 2020. The film follows a young boy and his estranged father as they try to reconnect. The film was a critical success and won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival.
Itako has become an influential figure in the Japanese film industry. Her films have been praised for their exploration of themes such as family, identity, and the environment. Her unique style of filmmaking has earned her numerous awards and nominations.
Itako's dedication to filmmaking has made her one of the most important directors in Japan. Her films have earned her international recognition and have contributed to the growing recognition of Japanese cinema.
