Sat Mar 4, 2023 – 2:30 pm | Downtown Beloit Association
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Wasabi – not a fairy tale
Directed by Hemant Singh
Narrative Feature
Japan | 147 min | 2023
Kano, a victim of bullying due to a scar on her face, discovers her hidden potential by carefully connecting the dots in the events around her. However, a dramatic shift in her life alters her reality.
The movie offers the raw and real struggles of those who are bullied and it does not shy away from portraying the harsh reality of the impact of bullying on a person’s psyche. It emphasizes how bullying can become a traumatic experience that lingers, easily triggered even in seemingly unrelated situations. Through its narrative, the story highlights the vulnerability of individuals who have been bullied and how it can shape their thoughts and actions and may lead to destructive consequences not just for themselves, but to the world around them. At the heart of this film lies a profound exploration of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. “Wasabi – not a fairy tale” vividly portrays the immense power of both hate and kindness in shaping the lives of individuals. It reminds us that within each person, there exists the capacity for both love and pain. Amidst this duality, the film emphasizes the irreplaceable importance of kindness, serving as a poignant reminder that it is an essential virtue for all of us.
Director’s Statement
Hemant Singh found himself inspired to write the script for Wasabi during the pandemic lockdown.
As he browsed the internet one day, he came across a video of a bullied child that immediately caught his attention. The global lockdown also provided Hemant with a moment of reflection, as he observed the frustration, anger, and deteriorating mental health of people worldwide. He also noted the increasing crime rates, such as rising hate crimes, police brutality, political assassinations, and ongoing wars, among others.
Hemant was determined to create a movie with a positive message that would inspire viewers to reflect on the importance of love and kindness in our world. While these events certainly influenced the direction of his story, the script itself is not linked to any specific incident or event.
News & Reviews
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Paris Independent Film FestivalParis
France
October 26, 2022
WORLD PREMIERE
JURY WINNER BEST MICRO-BUDGET FEATURE -
Skiptown Playhouse International Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
November 11, 2022
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
WINNER BEST OF FEST / WINNER BEST PICTURE (INTERNATIONAL) / WINNER BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / WINNER BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING FEMALE / WINNER BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING MALE / WINNER OUTSTANDING COMEDY PERFORMANCE / WINNER BEST WARDROBE -
The IndieFEST Film AwardsLa Jolla, CA
United States
August 29, 2023
Online Festival / Awards Event
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE WINNER: FEATURE FILM / LEADING ACTRESS / LEADING ACTOR / SCRIPT / WRITER -
Love & Hope International Film FestivalBarcelona
Spain
September 16, 2023
SPANISH PREMIERE
WINNER: BEST ACTOR, NOMINATION: BEST FEATURE FILM, BEST ACTRESS, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -
Greek International Film Festival Tour of CanadaToronto
Canada
October 4, 2023
CANADIAN PREMIERE
BEST GREEK CANADIAN PROJECT -
Accolade Global Film CompetitionLa Jolla, CA
United States
May 30, 2023
Online Festival / Awards Event
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE WINNER: FEATURE FILM / LEADING ACTRESS / LEADING ACTOR -
Robinson Film Awards (International Film Festival)Naples
Italy
April 11, 2023
ITALY PREMIERE
WINNER: BEST FEATURE of the YEAR, BEST ACTOR of the YEAR, BEST ACTRESS of the YEAR. WINNER: BEST FEATURE (FEBRUARY), BEST ACTOR (FEBRUARY), BEST EDITING (FEBRUARY) -
Bare Bones International Film & Music FestivalMuskogee, Oklahoma
United States
April 27, 2023
Oklahoma Premiere
WINNER BEST ENSEMBLE CAST FEATURE / WINNER OSCAR RAY’S BARE BONES SHAMELESS D.I.Y. MARKETING AWARD / WINNER SECOND PLACE FEATURE FOREIGN ORIGINS/LANGUAGE / WIINER THIRD PLACE FEATURE COMEDIC/DRAMEDY / HONORABLE MENTION BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER -
New York True Venture Film Festival – NYTVFFNew York
United States
May 24, 2023
New York
WINNER BEST ACTRESS / WINNER BEST ACTOR / NOMINATED BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE -
Marilyn Monroe Film FestivalBeverly Hills, California
United States
November 4, 2023
OFFICIAL SELECTION -
Roshani International Film Festival 2023Maharashtra
India
May 31, 2023
WINNER BEST FEATURE FILM / WINNER BEST SCREENPLAY / WINNER BEST ACTRESS / WINNER BEST ACTOR -
White Vulture Film FestivalHawthorne, New Jersey
United States
WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE / BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC -
Shockfest Film FestivalVirtual Film Festival Dec 10-12, 2022
United States
December 10, 2022
HONORABLE MENTION GOLDEN REEL AWARD -
The North Film Festival SwedenStockholm
Sweden
February 23, 2023
NOMINATION: BEST FEATURE FILM, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -
Ipê Amarelo Film FestivalSão Paulo
Brazil
February 10, 2023
WINNER BEST EDITING -
REELS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALAurangabad, Maharashtra
India
February 12, 2023
WINNER BEST FEATURE FILM, BEST ACTRESS, BEST ACTOR -
Culver City Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
December 8, 2022
WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE -
The Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival: Thriller Picture ShowPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
United States
October 8, 2023
WINNER BEST DARK COMEDY -
Fil Rouge Film FestivalJune 30, 2023
Online Event
WINNER BEST SCREENPLAY -
RAGFF VeneziaVenice
Italy
August 22, 2023
WINNER BEST ENSEMBLE -
Cosmo Genetics Film FestivalMexico City
Mexico
April 4, 2023
WINNER BEST FEATURE FILM DRAMA -
International Gold AwardsNew York
United States
March 5, 2023
WINNER: BEST PRODUCER FEATURE FILM / WINNER: BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / WINNER: BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY / GOLD AWARD: BEST FEATURE FILM / GOLD AWARD: BEST DIRECTOR/ SILVER AWARD: BEST ACTRESS / SILVER AWARD: BEST ACTOR / SILVER AWARD: BEST EDITING/ SILVER AWARD: BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / SILVER AWARD: BEST SOUND DESIGN / -
Florence Film AwardsFlorence
Italy
WINNER BEST DIRECTOR FEATURE FILM / WINNER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY / WINNER BEST SCREENPLAY / WINNER BEST EDITING / WINNER BEST SOUND DESIGN / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST FEATURE FILM / SILVER AWARD: BEST PRODUCER / SILVER AWARD: BEST ACTRESS / SILVER AWARD: BEST ACTOR / SILVER AWARD: BEST ORIGINAL SCORE -
New York Movie AwardsNew York
United States
WINNER BEST PRODUCER / WINNER BEST EDITING / WINNER BEST SOUND DESIGN / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST ACTRESS / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST ACTOR / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY / SILVER AWARD: BEST ORIGINAL SCORE -
Milan Gold AwardsMilan
Italy
SILVER AWARD:BEST ACTOR / SILVER AWARD: BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST PRODUCER / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST ACTRESS / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST EDITING -
World Indie Film AwardsInternational Online Festival
October 31, 2022
WINNER BEST OF THE FEST 2022/2023 / WINNER BEST FEATURE FILM / WINNER BEST FIRST-TIME FILMMAKER / WINNER BEST ACTOR -
Hollywood Gold AwardsLos Angeles
United States
SILVER AWARD: BEST EDITING / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST DIRECTOR FEATURE FILM / HONORABLE MENTION: BEST ACTOR -
Andromeda Film Festivalİstanbul
Turkey
August 25, 2023
WINNER: BEST FEATURE FILM / BEST ACTRESS / BEST ACTOR -
Golden Wheat AwardsIstanbul
Turkey
March 2, 2023
WINNER; BEST ACTRESS, BEST ACTOR, BEST DIRECTOR -
MOONWHITE FILMS INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST – MWFIFFMumbai, Maharshtra
India
December 15, 2022
WINNER BEST ACTOR / WINNER BEST ACTRESS / NOMINATED BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE -
Tabriz Cinema AwardsTabriz
Iran, Islamic Republic of
April 4, 2023
SPECIAL JURY AWARD / BEST FEATURE -
Cooper AwardsInternational Online Festival
February 28, 2023
WINNER BEST DRAMA FEATURE FILM -
Cinemaking International Film FestivalDhaka
Bangladesh
December 14, 2022
WINNER: BEST NORTH & SOUTH AMERICAN (CONTINENT) FILM – HONORABLE MENTION: BEST WORLD FILM COMPETITION -
Chambal International Film FestivalMumbai
India
January 20, 2023
WINNER BEST ACTRESS, WINNER SEMI FINALIST BEST FILM -
Onyko Films AwardsOdessa
Ukraine
WINNER BEST FEATURE DRAMA / WINNER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY FEATURE -
Vesuvius International Film FestCampania
Italy
November 28, 2022
WINNER BEST FEATURE, BEST DIRECTOR -
Milton Keynes International Film FestivalMilton Keynes
United Kingdom
December 22, 2022
WINNER BEST DIRECTOR / NOMINATED BEST FEATURE FILM -
Austin International Art FestivalAustin
United States
WINNER BEST ACTRESS / BEST DIRECTOR -
Athens International Monthly Art Film FestivalAthens
Greece
WINNER BEST ORIGINAL SCRIPT / WINNER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -
Always Late TV Movie AwardsGodfrey, IL
United States
March 5, 2023
NOMINATION: BEST FEATURE COMEDY, BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM -
Calgary Independent Film FestivalCalgary
Canada
December 10, 2022
WINNER BEST ACTOR -
Palm Springs Movie AwardsPalm Springs
United States
December 14, 2022
WINNER BEST ACTOR -
Titan International Film FestivalSidney, NSW
Australia
November 20, 2022
WINNER BEST ACTOR -
GLIFF – Golden LemurLisbon
Portugal
March 31, 2023
HONORABLE MENTION BEST ACTOR / BEST ACTRESS -
London International Monthly Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
January 25, 2023
HONOURABLE MENTION -
Stanley Film AwardsLondon
United Kingdom
October 9, 2022
BEST INDIE NARRATIVE FEATURE -
Sweet Democracy Film AwardsCannes
France
WINNER BEST PICTURE -
The Gladiator Film FestivalIstanbul
Turkey
March 18, 2023
WINNER BEST DIRECTOR -
Aasha international film festivalMaharashtra
Iran, Islamic Republic of
December 15, 2023
BEST FEATURE FILM -
BLASTOFFLos Angeles
United States
September 25, 2023
BEST LEAD PERFORMERS (TWO OR MORE) -
The Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival: Trailer Bash and Raging PagesGibsonia, Pennsylvania
United States
May 21, 2023
Scarpedicemente Trailer
WINNER BEST TRAILER -
Canada’s Yes! Let’s Make a Movie Film FestivalMontreal
Canada
WINNER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY / NOMINATION: BEST FEATURE, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST TRAILER -
T.I.F.A. – Tietê International Film AwardsTietê, São Paulo
Brazil
NOMINATION: BEST ACTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -
Holidays365 International Film Festival™Los Angeles
United States
November 24, 2022
Virtual Film Festival Nov 24 – Dec 4, 2022
OFFICIAL SELECTION -
Top Indie Film AwardsTokyo
Japan
September 30, 2023
NOMINATION: BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS, BEST EDITING -
8 & Halfilm AwardsRome
Italy
OFFICIAL SELECTION -
Hollywood on the Tiber Film AwardsRome
Italy
OFFICIAL SELECTION -
Janjira International Film FestivalMurud-Janjira
India
January 8, 2023
OFFICIAL SELECTION -
Wisdom Tree International Film FestivalPune, Maharshtra
India
January 20, 2023
OFFICIAL SELECTION -
The Macoproject Film FestivalNew York
United States
September 22, 2023
NOMINATED BEST FEATURE FILM -
Symbiotic Film FestivalKiev
Ukraine
October 7, 2023
NOMINATED BEST FEATURE FILM -
LWIFF | Lonely WolfJuly 31, 2023
ONLINE FESTIVAL
NOMINATED: BEST DRAMA
Hemant Singh
Directors
Hemant is from the enchanting northern part of Uttarakhand in India. His journey in the film industry began by appearing on a reality show on Channel V. Ultimately emerging victorious, he earned himself a thrilling chopper ride to Mount Everest and a delightful breakfast, followed by a week-long trip to Europe. In November 2011, he moved to Mumbai to pursue his life as an actor. However, his stint as an actor highlighted his lack of formal education in acting and pushed him to explore alternative avenues in the industry. In 2013, he found himself working as an assistant to an online editor at a company that specialized in making movie teasers and trailers.
This experience solidified his passion for filmmaking. Hemant then went on to join the world-renowned post-production studio Prime Focus (now known as DNEG), where he worked his way up from an assistant online editor to an online editor. In 2016, he moved to the vibrant city of Tokyo in Japan, where he worked various jobs. His last employer was a Tokyo-based media consulting firm that employed him as a contracted employee to work with Nissan. In 2018, Hemant began working as an independent freelance filmmaker. In 2023, with a decade of hard work, dedication, and determination, he achieved his dream of producing and completing his first feature film. Hemant is a passionate filmmaker who is driven by a deep desire to share thought-provoking stories and bring his creative visions to fruition.