Japan From Above Set for MIPDoc World Premiere TV Screening

NHK is hosting a World Premiere TV Screening at MIPDoc for Japan From Above, which features an aerial journey into the heart of modern Japan.

The World Premiere TV Screening of Japan From Above is scheduled for April 7 at 6 p.m. in the Grand Theatre of the JW Marriott Hotel. The blue-chip international co-production comes from Gedeon Programmes, NHK, ZDF/ARTE, Voyage and Japan Foundation. Directed by Xavier Lefebvre, the program is available as three one-hour episodes, five one-hour episodes with aerial and ground shots or as a 90-minute stand-alone. Broadcasters such as RTVS, TVP, Ceska TV, RDI and LTV have prebought the project.

Shin Yasuda, executive producer for NHK, said: “With Japan From Above, NHK and Gedeon embarked on a new challenge: using 4K cinematography to capture the breathtaking beauty of Japanese archipelago from the sky while, at the same time, providing the viewers with an up-close and personal experience with people that inhabit the islands. The result is a rare and intimate portrait of Japan that weaves the tale of geological dynamism together with personal stories of its inhabitants.”

Nicolas Deschamps, executive producer for Gedeon, added: “Japan From Above is truly a breathtaking experience for the eyes and the soul. Our director and the NHK team managed to record through four seasons and all around the archipelago, 4K material I’ve never seen before in my life. A delicate balance between storytelling and high-level shooting not only to show; but to feel the uniqueness of this country.”

Marita Hübinger, commissioning editor and head of the knowledge department at ZDF/ARTE, and Petra Boden, commissioning editor for ZDF/ARTE, commented: “Japan From Above is an event production based on Gedeon’s know-how in coproduction with NHK, recognized around the world for being at the forefront of shooting and broadcast technologies. This collaboration is once again a trusted partnership reflecting common editorial requirements.”

“Japan From Above is the result of a strong collaboration between Voyage, the prestigious NHK and Gedeon,” said Marika Puiseux, programming director at Fox Networks Group France for Voyage.

Lucy Smith, director of MIPDoc, said: “After last year’s highly successful premiere screening of Tokyo Phoenix, NHK is back in Cannes with this latest premium documentary, which underlines their faith in the event as a valuable launchpad for the global marketplace. It also illustrates the strong focus on international coproduction and co-development at MIPDoc 2018.”