Kawase Naomi

Other Name: 河瀬直美

Age: 55

Birthday: May 30, 1969

Nationality: Japanese

Gender: Female

Kawase Naomi is a Japanese film director from Kidera-cho, Nara City, Nara prefecture. She graduated from Nara City Ichijo High School, and from the film department of Osaka Photography College. She is a councilor of the 1300th Anniversary Business Association of Heijo and the executive director of Nara International Film Festival. In 2007, "The Mourning Forest" won the Grand Prix at the 60th Cannes International Film Festival. In 2009, at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival, she was the first woman and Asian to receive the "Carrosse d'or Gold Award" given to directors who contributed to the festival. In 2014, "Still the Water" won the Grand Prix Best Feature Award at the 12th Vladivostok International Film Festival. In 2015, she was the first Japanese female film director to receive the Chevalier Medal of French Arts and Culture. In 2017, "Hikari" was exhibited in the competition section of the 70th Cannes International Film Festival. Although she missed the highest award, Palme d'Or, she won the Ecumenical Jury Award in the independent category. She was the first Japanese female director to receive an award in this category..