WILD BOYS Wins the Grand Prix at the First Hozugawa Film Festival

Journal / Case StudyMovie

Two years after its Marché du Film screening at Cannes, the film takes Best Film in Kameoka, Kyoto — where it was shot

WILD BOYS, produced with the participation of LS STUDIO’s Jinn Yagi, won the Grand Prix (Best Film) at the first Hozugawa Film Festival, held in Kameoka, Kyoto, on 3 October 2026.

The film was screened in 2024 at the Marché du Film, the market held alongside the Cannes Film Festival. This award came in Kameoka, the film’s main location — making it a truly special moment.

Around two years after Cannes, we returned to the place where the film was born, and were honoured to receive the Grand Prix by vote of the local audience.

From Kameoka to Cannes — and back to Kameoka

WILD BOYS was filmed amid the rich natural landscape of Kameoka, Kyoto. At its heart are two boys who run away from the adults in their lives and try to live self-sufficiently in the mountains — an adventure told with humour and heart.

In 2024 it screened at the Marché du Film in Cannes, introducing the film to the international industry. A preview screening followed at Uplink Kyoto. Then, in 2026, it took part in the first Hozugawa Film Festival in Kameoka and won the Grand Prix.

Kameoka is known as a location for many films and dramas, and receiving this recognition there was a great joy for the whole team.

Jinn Yagi’s role

Jinn Yagi of LS STUDIO took part as a producer — an experience quite different from our usual photography and film work.

Beyond producing, the involvement took many forms: contributing artwork, production design, shooting behind-the-scenes photography on set, appearing in the film, and launching and running the crowdfunding campaign.

Jinn Yagi’s artwork appears in Mamoru’s house in the film, and the art department work included making the poisonous mushrooms seen on screen.

A finished film is built on the work of many people, not only the actors in front of the camera. Making it brought home once again both the joy and the difficulty of creating one work as a team.

A film blending Japanese and American sensibilities

The film was written and directed by Zak Baney. Following Last Message (2011) and Brothers (2015), it marks the director’s third Cannes-related screening.

It brings the humour and pace of American cinema to an all-Japanese cast, blending the cultural and linguistic differences between Japan and the US in its own distinctive balance.

The lead is played by Ota Sainai, who also appears in the Netflix production This is I, delivering a compelling performance of a boy’s struggles and friendship in a first leading role.

The cast also includes Tsutomu Tamura, known for A Samurai in Time and star of the spin-off period drama Shinpai Muyonosuke Tenka Gomen, who moves deftly between comedy and drama, adding depth to the film.

The soundtrack features LOUDNESS, the Japanese rock band who made their mark on the US music scene in the 1980s — their powerful sound drives the boys’ adventure.

About the film

Title: WILD BOYS
Year: 2024
Running time: 119 minutes
Written and directed by: Zak Baney
Cast: Ota Sainai, Rikuto Yoshimoto, Tsutomu Tamura and others
Producer, production design, BTS photography and more: Jinn Yagi (LS STUDIO)

Synopsis

Abandoned by his parents and about to be taken into a children’s home, Koga has only one person who can save him: his best friend, Mamoru.

Their plan is to hide in the mountains and live off the land until they’re grown up. But instead of the freedom they imagined, every day becomes a struggle against nature — one hardship after another, unexpected events, and trials that test their friendship. Meanwhile, their parents and the police are searching desperately.

Will the wild boys make it down the mountain safely? An unforgettable summer adventure begins.

Looking ahead

Following the Grand Prix, WILD BOYS is exploring a range of possibilities, including a theatrical release in Japan and streaming platforms.

Screened at Cannes, previewed in Kyoto, and now awarded the Grand Prix at the Hozugawa Film Festival — we want to bring this film, built step by step, to many more people.

We welcome enquiries from distributors, festival programmers, cinemas and streaming platforms. If you’re interested in screenings, distribution or press coverage, please get in touch.