ASHIMA

An inspirational film that captures a moment in time when the lithe and self-aware Ashima Shiraishi, who at 13 was considered one of the best rock climber in the sport, attempts one of the most difficult boulder climbs in the world in a remote area of South Africa, a V14. Taking off during a summer break from her school in New York City, she is accompanied only by a documentary crew and her demanding father and coach. Ashima''s father Hisatoshi, who started off as a butoh dancer and has no formal climbing experience, is the dominant figure in Ashima’s young life, and it’s this relationship that director Kenji Tsukamoto vividly hones in on. With its sweeping, wide-angle shots, and its slow, quiet progression, ASHIMA feels less like a ''bouldering'' film and more like a coming-of-age drama which happens to center around climbing. HIFF is honored to welcome director Kenji Tsukamoto to the festival as part of the New American Perspectives program in partnership with the Vilcek Foundation. Director Tsukamoto will be in attendance for a special post-screening Q&A.