Naomi Kawase, born in Nara in 1969, is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and producer. Known for an intimate and documentary-like style, she began her career exploring themes such as family, nature, and the cycle of life, often drawing from autobiographical experiences. Her international career took off in 1997 when, with her first feature film *Suzaku* (*Moe no Suzaku*), she became the youngest winner of the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Her presence on the Croisette became a constant, culminating in the 2007 Grand Prix for *The Mourning Forest* (*Mogari no Mori*). Her other globally acclaimed works include *Sweet Bean* (*An*), *Still the Water*, and *True Mothers*, the latter selected as Japan's entry for the Academy Awards. Her cinema, deeply rooted in her native region, combines a strong visual lyricism with a profound exploration of human existence and family bonds.