Mizuko
2019
Synopsis:
In Japan, there is a special way to grieve after having an abortion. Inspired by these Buddhist rituals, Mizuko is an intimate look of how a half-Japanese American woman re-evaluates the controversial drawing of ‘the line’ in abortion ethics, when she becomes pregnant herself.
Filmmakers:
Kira Dane
Co-Director, Animator
Kira Dane is a half-Japanese film director, editor, and animator from New York City, currently based in Nara, Japan. In 2019 Kira was named one of 15 fellows of the Sundance Ignite Program. She is also a member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective, and a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she majored in Film & Television. Her recent short documentary Mizuko (2019) was produced through Tribeca Institute’s If/Then Shorts Program and supported by Sundance Institute. The film held premieres at IDFA (2019) and SXSW (2020), winning Special Jury Awards at both festivals, and was also selected to screen at AFI Docs, Atlanta Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, and Palm Springs ShortFest, among others.
Katelyn Rebelo
Co-Director, Animator
Katelyn Rebelo is a Brooklyn based filmmaker. Her work sits at the intersection of documentary & experimental film, often exploring stories that reimagine concepts of femininity, politics, and personal freedom. She is currently a fellow at Jacob Burns Film Center, and her recent film "Mizuko" was supported by Tribeca Film Institute.