A filmmaker Mayumi Yoshida is forging her individual path through personal storytelling

Mayumi Yoshida may be, lately, in the spotlight because of her work in filmmaking, yet, as she tells it, she got into directing almost by accident. "I began my career acting as an actor" says Mayumi. "There were not a ton of roles to choose from, and there weren't enough roles that I really, really enjoyed out of the depths of my soul that made me feel like"Oh, this is my life.'" So, when an opportunity came up to secure funding for a film of a shorter length, Mayumi was able to not just play a role but be the director an intimate story.

"That has led to a variety of film festivals,"" she says Mayumi. "It made me feel like"Oh, there's definitely a lot more that I could be doing as a storyteller, as an artist, and rather than just actors." Since since then, Mayumi has continued to expand her film portfolio and has notably collaborated with artist Amanda Sum on artful music videos that upend expectations and challenge the genre's structure.

"The most helpful advice I've gotten from someone who was not me was the one that told me to be accountable for my abilities," says Mayumi. This means embracing her art, even if it's amidst self doubt. "Don't say 'no' to others for yourself," she adds. "You are thinking"Oh, but this is not working yet. Oh, but I won't get in. It's just unlikely to occur. No one has informed you this yet. It's been said to you. Therefore, let it go. shoot the shot, and never know. Most times it does work out."

We got to sit down with Mayumi just before her Staff Picked film "Different Than Before" was awarded the Jury Award for Best Music Video at the 2023 SXSW festival. Watch the highlights from our chat in the video above, and read the full interview below.

 What are the themes you see yourself returning to over and over in your work?

Mayumi the topics I frequently investigate in my films is the search of identity, oftentimes family drama. The majority of my movies are based on the personal, which means that there are family dynamics or stuck in between cultural, intergenerational, and intercultural, those are sort of my thing.

 What motivates you?

Mayumi A: One of the best things about film is that it lives throughout time. The story you tell now it's like this time capsule. Then it'll live eternally, and these people are experiencing even when you're not around. It seems like I've watched several films made way prior to my birth , and it affects my life. If I were the medium to tell stories that could continue to be told for a lifetime it became my mission after making films of my own which I truly enjoyed. I was like, "Ooh, there's more to this. There's a greater purpose that just telling me what I love passionately."

 Let us know about your Staff Pick experience.

Mayumi The experience was really, really exciting. In my opinion, it had a significant impact on all of us, because this movie had a social message and we really wanted this to reach a wider audience, not just due to the fact that all of us put in a lot of effort to the project, but also because this message was one that we really needed to deliver when we were in that moment and still. The film was released in the midst of Asian Heritage Month, so it really mattered that lots of people saw it and experienced the message. The staff also did their part to boost that. I really appreciated that.

I was familiar of Staff Picks, and I simply thought, "Oh, that's the cool group of people." That made me feel like "Oh do I deserve to be there?" And now I am feeling like I'm just really cool friends who hang out. I'm truly grateful to be part of the circle.

 What's next?

Mayumi: What's coming up for me is my very first film that's based on my very first short film, AKASHI. It's been a long journey and I feel just thrilled in the fact that we're able to film this. I'm very excited to premiere it at these really cool festivals and to have it shared with others, on one day.