Did you know that a program called Kyoto Filmmakers Lab is being held as part of Kyoto HISTORICA, a project aimed at the development and promotion of the film and video industry?

This program gathers creators from all over the world to nurture the next generation of talent for the film and video industry. In this article, we will convey the appeal of the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, focusing on a report of the program held on December 4, 2025, which involved observing Jidaigeki (period drama) filming at the Toei Kyoto Studio and Shochiku Kyoto Studio.

What is Kyoto HISTORICA: 5 programs coloring Kyoto in winter

Kyoto HISTORICA is a brand representing the collaboration of 5 projects (Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival, Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, Kyoto Film Pitching, Uzumasa Joraku Matsuri, and HISTORICA X) implemented to utilize the assets of Kyoto’s film and video culture, centered on its studios, for the purpose of developing and promoting the film and video industry.

Two of the central programs, the Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival and the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, were held from December 2nd to 7th.

About Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival

The Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival is the only film festival in Japan that focuses on the theme of history. 2025 marked its 17th year.

The themes of this year’s festival were “The Centenary of Uzumasa” and “Anti-Cathartic”. During the six-day period from December 2nd, not only were films screened at the Museum of Kyoto, but related events were also held, such as talk events titled “HISTORICA Ozashiki” and a live streaming event on YouTube called “HISTORICA at Night”.

For details, please visit the official page. → https://historica-kyoto.com/en/

About Kyoto Filmmakers Lab

This event proceeds in parallel in Kyoto, sharing the spirit of the Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival focusing on history. It is divided into two programs: “Hands-on JIDAIGEKI”, where young creators produce short Jidaigeki films, and the “MASTERS Session”, a lecture program where key persons in the film business gather to talk about the future of film and share insights.

In Hands-on JIDAIGEKI, young creators selected through screening visit Kyoto and form teams to produce Jidaigeki. Participants are recruited from all over the world, and one of the conditions is “ability to communicate in English,” emphasizing international human resource development.

The MASTERS Session is a program where film directors are invited as lecturers to discuss various topics, and participants can experience the reality of Jidaigeki by taking sword fighting (tate) classes. This year, events such as the “La Biennale di Venezia – Biennale College Cinema” by Italian film director Vincenzo Cavallo were held, providing an opportunity for the “Masters” to broaden their understanding of film.

Official Homepage → https://www.kyotofilmmakerslab.com/

KYOTO CMEX, as a co-organizer of Kyoto HISTORICA, supports the event primarily from a public relations perspective.

Witnessing the Scene of Hands-on JIDAIGEKI production

This time, we covered the event by accompanying the participants of the MASTERS Session. On December 4th, a program to observe the production site of Hands-on JIDAIGEKI was held. The venues were the Toei Kyoto Studio and Shochiku Kyoto Studio in Uzumasa. We went to see how the two Hands-on JIDAIGEKI teams were filming separately at each studio.

As mentioned earlier, both the Kyoto HISTORICA International Film Festival and the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab are very international events. Directors and creators with diverse backgrounds participated, and English was flying around inside the studios.

Seeing a Jidaigeki site in the midst of shooting

When the camera isn’t rolling, the site is filled with harmonious discussions about direction methods, but once the voice “Rolling!” echoes through the site, the atmosphere instantly becomes tense. We watched the filming literally holding our breath, observing the serious looks of the Hands-on JIDAIGEKI’s participants.

The photo shows them testing a direction to scatter tree leaves using a blower

Particularly at the Toei Kyoto Studio, since they were filming on an open set visible to visitors of the Toei Kyoto Studio Park, it was very impressive to see them proceeding through trial and error.

A participant of the MASTERS Session interested in the film business said, “Seeing the actual site with my own eyes gave me an image of what it would be like to be involved in video production in the future, which was helpful”. Indeed, feeling the heat of the actual site was important, and we could gain an experience that changes our perspective on the video works that we usually consume casually.

Touring sites usually off-limits

In addition, we toured the interior of studios usually private area, with commentary from studio staff. For example, we were taught that the reason the ground of one of Japan’s largest indoor studios is made of soil, allowing to dig to plant trees.

We were also able to walk around the streetscapes of open sets where no filming was taking place, and stepping into places that have produced various famous movies and dramas caused great excitement among everyone. It was a meaningful experience for the Masters who are considering filming in Kyoto in the future.

Summary

So far, we have delivered a report on the studio tour held on December 4th from the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab.

Creators from around the world gathered at the Toei and Shochiku Kyoto Studios to experience the site of Jidaigeki production and the behind-the-scenes of studios usually inaccessible. The Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, through both the MASTERS Session and Hands-on JIDAIGEKI, provides a valuable opportunity for the talent who will shoulder the next generation of the video industry to feel Kyoto’s film culture and technology firsthand.

A report video capturing the day’s events is also scheduled to be released at a later date, so please check the official channel.