Production

Kenzo Horikoshi

Kenzo Horikoshi, a graduate of Waseda University, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by founding the Europe-Japan Society travel agency, which he later sold to Japan Airlines. His experiences while traveling sparked a fascination with the New German Cinema movement, particularly the works of Wim Wenders and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Upon returning to Japan in 1977, he played a pivotal role in promoting this cinematic movement by organizing the German New Film Festival.

In 1982, Horikoshi established Euro Space, a micro-cinema in Shibuya that became a hub for independent film production and distribution. He was instrumental in supporting notable Japanese filmmakers like Isao Yamada, Gakuryû Ishii, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and Shinji Aoyama, while also fostering connections with Western directors such as Charles Musser and Frank Henenlotter. Euro Space emerged as a key player in the Japanese film industry, facilitating international collaborations, including Matthias X. Oberg’s *Stratosphere Girl* and Abbas Kiarostami’s celebrated *Like Someone in Love*.

Throughout this time, Euro Space became a vital distributor of European cinema in Japan, showcasing works from acclaimed directors like Lars von Trier, François Ozon, and Aki Kaurismäki. A significant highlight of Horikoshi's career is his ongoing partnership with Leos Carax, overseeing the distribution of all Carax’s films from *The Lovers on the Bridge* onward, including his producer role in the Cannes 2021 opening film, *Annette*.

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