The master class by award-winning Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase at Qumra evolved as a spiritual and philosophical journey into her life and outlook, as she highlighted her experience of making films after being challenged by the two existential questions: “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose?”.
These questions seeded her journey into filmmaking despite living in Nara, a close-knit old township in Japan with a heritage of over 1,300 years but removed from the bustling industry and limelight of Tokyo.
A Qumra Master, whose film The Mourning Forest was earlier shown as part of the Modern Masters Screenings at the annual industry event of Doha Film Institute, Kawase said she did not grow up watching films nor did she have the environment that would have nurtured her into a filmmaker.
“Even being born into this world was a miracle,” said Kawase, narrating how her parents divorced when her mother was pregnant with her. “Now that I was here in the world, I wanted to live it and leave behind a trace of my presence. The God of filming came to me...cameras and film came to me. I wanted to know myself and that is how I started making films.”
Kawase’s films have a strong autobiographical element and her earlier works included documentary tributes to her grandmother, who raised her.
Stating that she did not see her films as a diary, Kawase said how anyone responded to these situations was unique to individuals. That is why she is candid in admitting that she does not have a direct answer to what moments from her own life she would want to show on film.  
While noting that she was a tough taskmaster to her actors, Kawase said she went by instinct and also gave enough leeway to the cast while shooting.
She advised filmmakers to learn the value of patience in filming. “After all, if you want to watch a cherry blossom, you have to wait till spring.”
Kawase also said the reason she made films was not driven by money.
“There is no guarantee of monetary success for films, and if a film does not bring returns, a director can be out of work for five to six years. But that is a risk worth taking.”
Having launched a film festival in Nara, Kawase said she is telling the young generation of the world that they can also do something in their own hometown.
“That is similar to what you are doing here in Doha with Qumra; you have filmmakers from all over the world. But why here? That is because we want to hand down culture to our young generation.”