**Hirokazu Kore-eda (born 1962)** is an acclaimed Japanese film director, screenwriter, and editor, known for his deeply human and observational cinema. His work subtly explores family dynamics, the concept of "surrogate" or unconventional families, memory, loss, and interpersonal relationships.

His style is characterized by a subdued naturalism and a profound empathy towards his characters, often children or individuals on the margins of society. Among his most significant films are *After Life* (1998), *Nobody Knows* (2004), *Still Walking* (2008), *Like Father, Like Son* (2013) – winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes – and *Our Little Sister* (2015).

He reached the pinnacle with *Shoplifters* (2018), winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a moving portrait of a family of outcasts. His cinema, while addressing complex themes, is always accessible and touching.