London-based international documentary sales and production outfit Dogwoof has boarded world sales for Shiori Ito’s feature documentary, “Black Box Diaries,” which will receive its world premiere in the World Cinema documentary Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The film follows director and journalist Ito’s courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender. Unfolding like a thriller and combining secret investigative recordings, vérité shooting and emotional first-person video, her quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country’s desperately outdated judicial and societal systems.
A journalist, writer and filmmaker, Ito wrote the book “Black Box” in 2017 based on her experience, and went on to win the Free Press Association of Japan Award for Best Journalism in 2018. “Black Box” is now available in seven languages, including English. Ito was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2020. “Black Box Diaries” is her feature documentary debut.
Dogwoof’s Oli Harbottle said: “Shiori’s brave and fearless investigation, which plays out like a thriller as it leads her all the way to the highest corridors of power in Japan, is intimately and expertly captured in ‘Black Box Diaries,’ which is sure to be one of the most talked-about films at Sundance. Everyone at Dogwoof was awe-struck by her courage in making the film, and we’re honored to be working with her and the team to launch this to audiences worldwide.”
Ito added: “I believe in telling stories, even when it’s a hard one to tell. It’s been a long and difficult journey making this very personal film, but it’s so gratifying to now partner with Dogwoof and finally share it with the world at Sundance, the best possible festival to premiere the film.”
“As a small and passionate team who have worked in intimate settings over the last few years in the making of ‘Black Box Diaries,’ we’re thrilled the film was received so positively from Dogwoof so early in the process,” producer Eric Nyari said. “They immediately shared their belief in it and wanted to be on board straight away, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with them on bringing the film to the widest possible audience.”
The film is an international co-production by Hanashi Films, Cineric Creative and Star Sands.
It is produced by Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin and Ito. The co-producers are Takashi Shinomiya, Ryo Yukizane and Ryo Nagai. The executive producer is Mitsunobu Kawamura.
