VIZ Pictures Acquires New People Film Series

VIZ Pictures has announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the six NEW PEOPLE Artist Series documentary films profiling important contemporary Japanese modern artists. The films will be screened at the new VIZ Cinema in San Francisco as part of the fall program titled LIFE ≈ ART. DVD releases will follow this fall and into 2010.

TRAVELING WITH YOSHITOMO NARA captures a journey that the artist Yoshitomo Nara took during the creation of his exhibit, AtoZ, in his hometown of Hirosaki, Japan. The film was directed by Koji Sakabe and narrated by actress Aoi Miyazaki, who also starred in the hit film NANA. (Scheduled DVD Release: Fall 2009)

YAYOI KUSAMA: I LOVE ME documents the creative process of avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama as she works to complete her new series of 50 large monochrome drawings. Directed by Takako Matsumoto (Scheduled DVD Release: Winter 2009).

DAIDO MORIYAMA: STRAY DOG OF TOKYO features the charismatic photographer, Daido Moriyama, who is known for his stark and contrasting black and white images that are symbiotic to his fervent lifestyle. (Scheduled DVD Release: 2010)

HISASHI TENMYOUYA: SAMURAI NOUVEAU introduces Hisashi Tenmouya, a contemporary painter and former graphic designer, acclaimed for his neo-traditional Japanese painting style that presents modern, urban street subjects rendered in a traditional Japanese style. Directed by Go Ishizaki (Scheduled DVD Release: 2010).

MAKOTO AIDA: CYNIC IN THE PLAYGROUND tells the story of Makoto Aida, and artist known for his diverse and controversial manga, paintings, and video installations. Directed by Yusuke Tamari (Scheduled DVD Release: 2010).

KATSURA FUNAKOSHI: WHISPERING GAZE features Katura Funakoshi, a visionary sculptor, known for his camphor wood carvings of human and human-like figures that feature his characteristic philosophical marble eyes gazing into the distance. Directed by Kenjiro Fujii (Scheduled DVD Release: 2010).