Creative Partnerships

Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi did not often use music in his films until he heard the music of Japanese multi-instrumentalist Eiko Ishibashi. In Ishibashi's multifaceted oeuvre - from a happy memory of her hometown to a jazzy ode to a character from Law & Order - Hamaguchi recognised a contemporary and a fellow cinephile. The contemplative score of his meandering Oscar winner Drive My Car was born. Furthermore, Hamaguchi's new film, Evil Does Not Exist, saw the light of day after Ishibashi asked him to create images to accompany her music. These dialogue-free images became Gift, the film that will have its world premiere at Film Fest Gent, with a live score performed by Eiko Ishibashi.