Director Kiku Ohe has signed to Stink Films London
A versatile and award-winning filmmaker, Kiku effortlessly traverses genres and themes, telling his stories with rare finesse and sensitivity.
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In his most recent work, he captured epic, modern luxury in a star-studded ode to travel for Louis Vuitton and celebrated humanity at a very personal level for Johnnie Walker, reflecting on 12 years of memories past and yet to be made for a new generation of whisky drinkers.
Kiku Ohe eschews stereotypical representations, making his longer form work all the more absorbing. His short film for outdoor brand Merrell told a surprisingly emotional story of siblings reunited following the death of their father and last year, he released his first feature The Lines. The award-winning film follows two actors who escape to the isolation of the desert in search of a new, deeper truth, exploring how we connect with one another and the world around us
Kiku’s route to directing was unconventional. He started out in design and photography then, editing and directing, moved into making music based films and documentaries, before taking on his first branded work in 2010 — a short film for Nokia, exploring the work of an urban beekeeper in Hong Kong, which earned him Gold at YDA.
This artistic journey clearly influences his work today, with tight cuts, extraordinary sonic quality and a delicate interplay of light, sound and movement that awakens the senses. Perhaps unsurprisingly, growing up in Japan and New Zealand, the Australian director finds an elemental power in landscape. An ever-present theme in his filmmaking, Kiku has an unusual ability to bring the viewer into nature, which he so obviously loves.
But ultimately it is his skill in storytelling and crafting authentic performances that are constant, driving his aesthetic choices, making his films ring true.
Things can get contrived very quickly. Performance and casting are everything, no matter the category or style
Kiku said. “I search for truth in its simplest form.”
Blake Powell, managing partner Stink Films said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Kiku’s for a while. It’s rare to see such strong visuals complement, rather than replace, the storytelling. I’m hugely excited to see what we can achieve together at Stink.”
Kiku concluded: “I’ve always respected the work that comes out of Stink. They have a great reputation. Not only do they really understand filmmakers, they understand the changing landscape. With real depth to their offering, the breadth and scope of where we can apply cinematic storytelling together is exciting.”
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