KAZUYUKI KITAKI APPOINTED PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR JSFF SPECIAL EDITION AT EXPO OSAKA 2025
- Ryuzaki Lee
- Sep 13
- 2 min read
The Japan-Serbia Film Festival (JSFF) is honored to announce the appointment of acclaimed producer Kazuyuki “Kazz” Kitaki as Program Director for the JSFF Special Edition at Expo 2025 Osaka and as the Official Selector for Japanese films at the 12th Japan-Serbia Film Festival this November.
This appointment recognizes Mr. Kitaki’s long-standing creative partnership with JSFF, through which he has consistently introduced outstanding Japanese talents and compelling cinema to both the festival and European audiences. His efforts have significantly contributed to bridging cultures and fostering artistic dialogue beyond mere promotion. A notable recent contribution was providing the winning title for the previous JSFF edition, Yoshifumi Udo’s Actress Wouldn’t Cry, which received the prestigious Nikola Stojanović Legacy Award.
Mr. Kitaki’s multifaceted involvement with JSFF includes curating masterclasses and participating in insightful panels on advancing international co-productions, greatly enriching our collateral programs. It is especially fitting that he will now lead programming at the Serbia Pavilion during Expo 2025—a venue dedicated to cultural exchange and enhancing international visibility.
With a career spanning over 15 years, Kazuyuki Kitaki is the founder of MAGNETIZE, a full-service independent film company responsible for projects ranging from planning and production to distribution. His recent producing credits include ICE CREAM FEVER (2023) by Tetsuya Chihara and Actress Wouldn’t Cry (2023) by Yoshifumi Udo. He also produced the international co-production Under the Turquoise Sky (dir. KENTARO), which won the FIPRESCI Prize and the Talent Award at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival.
We are thrilled to have Mr. Kitaki’s profound expertise and visionary leadership shape both JSFF programs this year, further strengthening the cultural and cinematic bonds between Japan and Serbia.
About Kazuyuki Kitaki
Kazz Kitaki began his producing career in 2008 with 108 (dir. Yoshitaka Mori) and established MAGNETIZE in 2012. He has produced several critically acclaimed features and co-productions, earning international recognition for projects that blend artistic innovation with cross-cultural collaboration including the long-awaited first Japan-Mongolia Film Festival which was held in the Spring of 2025.
Comments