Thundergod, 18min 2025

Thundergod is a narrative experimental film set in a make-believe mountain village isolated from the outside world by frequent lightning strikes. One day, a young woman named Aoi appears in the village with dreams of dancing at an exclusive underground club open only to lightning strike survivors. Aoi wanders the village in a desperate daze, torn between life and death. The villagers she meets are split between those who live in fear of lightning strikes, and others who look to lightning as a harbinger of good fortune.

Dir. Umi Ishihara
Featuring Aoi Yamada and Tokyo QQQ
Producer: Oscar Nielsen
DOP: Asumi Sako

World premiere: Sapporo International Short Film Festival & Market 2025 (Japan Premiere Award)
International premiere: Beijing International Short Film Festival 2025
Selected film festival: Festival Regard 2026