IMAGICA GROUP's Second Original Film Project to be Produced by P.I.C.S. 'OUR SON' Directed and Written by Tomotaro Seki Selected! <Cannes Press Conference Report>

IMAGICA GROUP Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and CEO: Shunjiro Nagase) launched the 'IMAGICA GROUP Original Film Production Project' in 2025 with the aim of discovering new talent and pursuing the potential of Japanese cinematic expression on a global stage. The details of the selected second project were announced to the world during the 79th Cannes Film Festival.

The 'IMAGICA GROUP Original Film Production Project' calls for film proposals from within the group companies with an eye toward submission and awards at international film festivals, selecting and producing one film each year. By continuing this for five years, the company aims to discover and nurture talented creators while broadcasting the creativity and expressive power of the IMAGICA GROUP to the world.

[Press Conference Report]

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026
Location: (Press Conference) Japan Pavilion, Cannes / (Garden Party) The SCREEN Garden

Speakers: Second Project 'OUR SON'
Director/Writer Tomotaro Seki (P.I.C.S. Co., Ltd.), Producer Han Sang-geun (P.I.C.S. Co., Ltd.)
Film Director Kei Ishikawa
Tokyo International Film Festival Programming Director Shozo Ichiyama
Kawakita Memorial Film Institute Managing Director Yuka Sakano
IMAGICA GROUP Inc. Representative Director, President and CEO Shunjiro Nagase

From left: Shunjiro Nagase, Han Sang-geun, Tomotaro Seki, Shozo Ichiyama, Yuka Sakano, Kei Ishikawa

Prompted by the MC, the press conference for the second 'Original Film Production Project' announced to the world by IMAGICA GROUP commenced.
The speakers for the day were introduced, including IMAGICA GROUP Representative Director, President and CEO Shunjiro Nagase, and the jury members for the second project: Director Kei Ishikawa, Mr. Shozo Ichiyama, and Ms. Yuka Sakano.

First, Mr. Nagase offered his greetings.
'Thank you all very much for gathering here today despite your busy schedules. I am Shunjiro Nagase of IMAGICA GROUP. Today marks the announcement of the second installment of our Original Film Production Project. Since the announcement of the first project last year, we have received a tremendous response from many people. We have received strong encouragement from those in the film industry saying, "It's a wonderful initiative, please continue it," and we have also heard from producers and directors applying, saying, "We want you to produce not just one, but two or three." I am personally very delighted to have been able to create such an opportunity. And as we welcome the second installment this year, we have newly invited Director Kei Ishikawa to join us as a jury member. Director Ishikawa and I are coincidentally the same age, so I am highly motivated. I have received reports that there were many applications again this year, and the proposals were very excellent. The details will be discussed by the speakers shortly, but we will continue to do our utmost to bring good works to the world,' he greeted.

Next, Director Kei Ishikawa spoke about his thoughts on joining the project, 'I saw the announcement of the first project at Cannes last year, and personally felt it was a wonderful project, thinking, "If there's a chance, could I apply too?" when I received the invitation to be a jury member this time. I also hesitated a little because I am in a position to apply as a creator, but I thought it would be a great honor to see diverse proposals from a creator's perspective and select a work to send to an international film festival, so I accepted.' He continued, 'I have seen all the works of the director collective "Go-gatsu" (May), to which Director Seki belonged, since "Happo-en," and he is personally one of my favorite creators. Their works often attract attention for the novelty of their visual "form," but I have always felt that their "way of presenting actors is wonderful" and wanted to know the secret. This proposal has a strong story and attractive characters in addition to the novelty of such forms. I personally really wanted to see what kind of film it would become when these are combined. I feel that if it turns out to be a good work, it is a project with the potential to immediately take off for international film festivals,' sharing his reasons for selecting the work.

Mr. Shozo Ichiyama spoke about the changes in the submitted works seen from the first project, 'Last year, there were also many wonderful proposals submitted, but while they would make high-quality commercial films if made normally as Japanese films, the intent of this project to "aim for international film festivals"...'