AKIKO IZUMITANI
Akiko Izumitani, an award winning filmmaker, born and raised in Japan, currently living in Los Angeles. She was a perfect example of a person who "Addicted" in Cinema. Akiko Izumitani was selected as one of the ‘Top Rising Asian American Filmmakers’. She graduated from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Akiko first earned recognition through her feature length documentary, 'Silent Shame', about Japan’s dark history in WWII. She traveled a lone, interviewed survivors and veterans including American POWs and former Japanese soldiers who committed war crimes in Japan, Korea, China, and the USA. It took her seven years for completing her first film due to the lack of finance and keeping her full time job for her immigration visa. 'Silent Shame' won several awards including Best Feature in Beijing Movie Festival and The Best Political Movie in Action On Film International Film Festival. It has been sold it to China and Denmark and several universities in Canada and Asia. Silent Shame is available on Vimeo on Demand in English speaking territories.
Since she got a green card through her job, Akiko also directed the narrative short films, The Other Side featuring James Kyson (Heroes) and Tanner Thomason (Host of Hollywood Today Live (FOX)). The Other Side was screened at the DGA for winning an ECA award hosted by International Cinematographers Guild. She also directed Sukiyaki with Love (Semi-Finalist of NBCUniversal Shortcuts) and Kung Fu Date (won the Remi Award at the Houston WorldFest Film Festival).
Akiko is a part of Santa Monica Screenwriter’s Group and she has been helping writers including Nicole Perlman (Guardians of Galaxy) and James Mason (The S.H.U.) to polish their scripts over five years. She has written several scripts and now is preparing for producing a feature film, 'American POW'.