Based on the short story by Anthony Doerr and shot on location in Okinawa with stunning cinematography by Akiko Ashizawa, an introverted, blind professor (longtime actor Lily Franky) lives alone, filling his retired days engrossed in the world of shells, studying their contours and characteristics. A painter (played by noted actress Shinobu Terajima of CATERPILLAR, AKAME 48 WATERFALLS, and VIBRATOR) with an unknown illness is washed ashore. Her painting arm is paralyzed until the professor administers the sting of a poisonous shell which miraculously cures her. Soon, his quiet days of solitude are compromised as word travels that the old man and his shells possess curative powers in a tale that demonstrates the duality of nature’s ability to both heal and kill. THE SHELL COLLECTOR is encored specially as our hidden gem!

Director Yoshifumi Tsubota

Born in Kanagawa, Japan in 1975. His experimental film BIG SPECTACLE, shot while studying at Tama Art University, received the Grand Prix at the Image Forum Festival 2000. His first narrative feature film, MIYOKO, about the life of pioneering manga artist Shinichi Abe, premiered in the Tiger Competition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2010 and has continued to play to critical acclaim. Tsubota maintains a career working as a production designer and director of commercials and music videos. He also writes screenplays.