STEP OUT

Set in the sun-drenched landscapes of Okinawa, this heartfelt coming-of-age story follows Teruya Yō, a teenager living with his cheerful single mother, Akane, and younger sister, Mai. Despite their modest life, the family is close-knit and full of warmth. When Yō falls for Lisa, a student at a local dance school, he joins her class—discovering not only his passion for dance but a talent that quickly blossoms. Encouraged by his mother, a former dancer, Yō begins to dream big. The arrival of Hiroki, a music producer and Yō’s estranged uncle, brings news that shatters Yō’s hopes of reconnecting with his absent father. As emotions erupt, long-buried truths between mother and son come to light. Offered the chance to audition in Tokyo, Yō dances with heartfelt devotion. Anchored in love and community, vibrant song and sick dance moves, STEP OUT is co-directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi and Okinawan-born Kazuhiro Taira, whose last film, MIRACLE CITY KOZA was a big hit at HIFF 2022.