‘LIBIDO’ is Nina Kojima’s directorial debut film
Nina’s aspiration as a film director is to explore various human life stories, where the audience will be asked to use their imagination on what is going on in the characters’ head, rather then what they directly see on the screen. She likes to play with contrasts – so something seemingly quite normal initially, gradually proving to be truly crazy and extra-ordinary. It messes with the audience’s instinct of wanting to be empathetic, as well as drawn to things – people and events – which are so far beyond our own understanding that one is both repulsed and fascinated at the same time.
With Sigmund Freud’s theory of libido turned into a short comedy film, Nina embarked on the project of creating something very different, new and challenging enough for the wider audience. Freud, the great psychoanalyst of the late 19th century, advocated his theory of psychosexual stages. Centre of his theory was libido, or sexual power of each individual, around which one’s life was built through tension and pleasure. In her film, Nina drew directly from Freud and showcased a range of Freudian stereotypes.
Libido is set in a central London upper middle class neighbourhood. It is a story of a mid-thirties female therapist and her bespoke clients, who are all evidently having rather unusual problems. Libido’s therapist is always staying in control and calming down the situations created by the clients’ erratic behaviours. When her long day is over, she is rushing to a fancy dress birthday party. On her way, an elderly female passer-by confronts her with the accusation that the therapist had hit her car. Suddenly the therapist ‘loses it’ and breaks into a ferocious ranting in a manner that ironically confirms Sigmund Freud’s theory.
The audience may also notice the use of particular colours in Libido. Each colour one sees on the screen comes with associated psychological meanings, and it is also no coincidence that the colour pallet itself echoes that of great renaissance masters such as Michelangelo.
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‘LIBIDO’ is Nina Kojima’s directorial debut film
Nina’s aspiration as a film director is to explore various human life stories, where the audience will be asked to use their imagination on what is going on in the characters’ head, rather then what they directly see on the screen. She likes to play with contrasts – so something seemingly quite normal initially, gradually proving to be truly crazy and extra-ordinary. It messes with the audience’s instinct of wanting to be empathetic, as well as drawn to things – people and events – which are so far beyond our own understanding that one is both repulsed and fascinated at the same time.
Three Little Hearts explores anti-racial theme through fantasy alien story
3 Little Hearts
It doesn’t matter when we arrived on this planet or how. The truth is that throughout centuries, members of the right race have had better opportunities and more chances of success. Is the history repeating or things just never change?
This short film will guide you to witness the quest of two groups of alien children; one white and the other coloured, both of whom just arrived on Earth. In order to survive on this planet each of them need a heart, which can be given only by The Man, who has been acting as such custodian for the past two centuries. Now nearing the end of his mission, he has only three hearts left, but he is shocked to learn that there are two groups of aliens seeking him. Do aliens know each other? Can we guess which group will be rewarded? Do aliens know they need love to survive on this planet?
There is a lot of symbolism in this short film. Can you find some of the symbols? Allow me to start with a few clues; less privileged girls are seeking equality in the world – can you see how this is reflected in their ‘uniform’ – once a symbol of the ideological system, many of which no longer exist. They suffer the same fate as many less privileged in our world, who are often victims of gun crimes and traffic accidents. A policeman wearing a 200 years old uniform persecutes the girls … so has anything changed on our planet?
Good bye Morris is Nina’s all in one shot short film
Brexit Through the Non-political Glass Feature Documentary film
This is Nina’s first feature documentary film ( 85 min).
In production – my first feature film Brexit Means Brexit
Brexit Means Brexit, is a real eyewitness account of several human dramas which unfolded in the wake of EU Referendum of 2016. The overnight change of the nation’s mood has impacted many Europeans living in the UK, including that of the protagonist Nina, a veteran TV broadcaster working for an Eastern European state broadcasting service. Brexit Means Brexit portrays the decline of European idealism, which was born in the aftermath of WWII, through interweaving and bitter-sweet tales of ordinary immigrants living in the UK.
FESTIVALS
Awards for short film Three Little Hearts by Nina Kojima
Awards for short film Libido by Nina Kojima
Brexit Means Brexit feature film in pre-production
SHOWREEL
CONGRATULATIONS to all the February 2019 Winners! GFFA is a special jury formed by Hollywood producers, European and international distributors to promote films and new media.
GFF AWARDS OFFICIAL SELECTIONS FOR FEBRUARY’S COMPETITIONS – LOS ANGELES 2019
Congratulations to all of our winners, It’s an honor to have you on board! And thank you all for being part of the GFFAwards.
GFF Awards Official Selections for March’s Competitions – Los Angeles 2018
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Nina Kojima is a director and actress, known for Libido (2017), The Tracker (2016) and The Trespasser (2018).