On January 17, 2026, a pre-event for the 28th Kyoto International Student Film & Video Festival called “Shoji” (Life and Death) was held at the Kyodo hall of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

This event was planned to build excitement for the main festival starting on February 20. The event featured screenings of highly-rated films from past festivals and a talk session with religious experts. KYOTO CMEX supports the festival as a partner. Here is a report on the films and the event.

Introduction of the Films

The films for this event were selected from past festival winners. Three films were chosen because they help us think about the lives of others.

The hills of the birds

(South Korea / 2024 / 27 min / Fiction) Director: Lee Euntaek 

Vortex

(South Korea / 2024 / 19 min / Fiction) Director: JANG Jae-Woo 

The Hen Lays Its First Egg

(Japan / 2024 / 16 min / Animation) Director: Yuri Kurihara

In the year 200X, the world was struck by an unknown disaster in which “all creatures are neither born nor die”. A man and a girl meet in a world where life is an indefinite sentence of death. A man and a woman meet in a world where life is an indefinite sentence. Why do people live? Is there any meaning to this life? This short animated film approaches the meaning of human life.

Thinking about “Life and Death” at a Temple

The venue was “Kyodo”, a building inside Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The event started at 7:30 PM. The night view of Kyoto City from the temple made the participants feel away from their daily lives.

Inside the hall, there was a statue of Buddha and the scent of incense, creating a solemn atmosphere. The guests for the talk session were Sigen Mori (Kiyomizu-dera Temple), Keiko Takaki (Jochi University), and Hironori Yamaguchi (Ritsumeikan University). They discussed “Life and Death” from a religious perspective while watching the three films.

“Shoji” (Life and Death) is something we cannot avoid. However, we usually do not think about it. These films gave us a chance to reflect on this theme. The stories were not about heroes or adventures, but about the “shadows” of life and death that exist near us.

Remembering the January 17 Earthquake

January 17 is also the day the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred 31 years ago. Before the films started, Mr. Mori chanted prayed for the victims.

Some participants, including the writer, do not have memories of the earthquake because they were born after the disaster. It is easy to think of it only as a “historical event”. However, disasters are always close to us. This event was a chance to stop looking away and think seriously about them.

Director Yuri Kurihara Visits Kyoto

Director Yuri Kurihara, who was previously interviewed by KYOTO CMEX, came to Kyoto for the event. Her film, The Hen Lays Its First Egg, was a winner at the 27th festival (2025). The theme of “all creatures are neither born nor die” was perfect for this event.

In the second half of the talk session, the director and guests discussed the film’s themes. The film asks us how humans should act in a world without birth or death.

The director’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic made the film’s message deeper. Her “frustration” mentioned in the interview touched the hearts of the audience. For Director Kurihara, this film is proof that she “lived” through difficult times.

You can watch The Hen Lays Its First Egg on  YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and U-NEXT. Please take a look.

Conclusion

We often avoid thinking about death. However, at Kiyomizu-dera, we realized that thinking about “Life and Death” is not just a heavy burden. It also helps us realize how to live brightly in the present moment.

Films have the power to make invisible emotions and “pain” visible through imagination. The lives of the people on the screen felt like our own stories.

The 28th Kyoto International Student Film & Video Festival is Coming Soon!

The 28th Kyoto International Student Film & Video Festival will be held from February 20 (Fri) to 23 (Mon). The venue is the Museum of Kyoto. There will be film screenings and various guest events. This year, three final judges—animation director Tomohisa Taguchi, and film directors Ryo Takebayashi and Youko Yamanaka—will judge the candicates. Please check the official website for updates!

https://www.kisfvf.com/