Filmmaker Mayumi Yoshida is forging her individual path through personal storytelling

Mayumi Yoshida may be, lately getting attention because of her work in filmmaking, but to hear her tell her story, she found herself filmmaking almost on accident. "I began my career acting as an actor" says Mayumi. "There weren't a lot of roles to choose from, and there wasn't enough roles I really, really enjoyed at the core of my soul and made me feel"Oh, this is my life.'" So, when an opportunity came up to raise funds to make a short film Mayumi stepped up - to not only star in but also be the director an intimate narrative.

"That has led to a variety of film festivals,"" says Mayumi. "It led me to feel"Oh, there's definitely a lot more that I could be doing in my capacity as a storyteller, an artist, and not only just as an actor." Since since then, Mayumi has continued to steadily build her film repertoire including collaborating with artist Amanda Sum on artful music videos that challenge expectations and challenge the genre's style.

"The best advice I've ever gotten from someone who was not me was the one that told me to be accountable for my abilities," says Mayumi. It's about embracing the courage to champion her art, even if it's amidst self doubt. "Don't be afraid to say no to anyone else," she adds. "You are thinking"Oh, but this is too late to make a difference. Oh, but I won't get in. Oh, but it's unlikely to occur. There is no one who has told you that until now. You have told you that. So let that go, make the shot, and never know. The majority of the time, it works out."

We got to talk with Mayumi shortly before her Staff Picked film "Different Than before" was awarded the Jury Award for Best Music Video at the 2023 SXSW festival. Watch the highlights of our conversation in the above video and read the full interview here.

 What themes do you find yourself returning to over and over in your work?

Mayumi Mayumi: The themes that I often investigate in my films is the search of identity, oftentimes family drama. I believe that a large portion of my movies are based on the personal, which means that there are relationships between families, or trapped between different cultural, intergenerational, and multi-cultural are kind of right up my alley.

 What keeps you going?

Mayumi A: One of the best things about films is the fact that it lasts for ever. You tell a story and you're like a time capsule. Then it'll continue to live forever, which is what these characters can experience even when you're no longer in the vicinity. In my experience, I've seen numerous films that were made way prior to my birth , and it affects me. If I were a vessel to create stories that would continue to be told for a lifetime it became my goal after I made films of my own that I really loved. I thought, "Ooh, there's more to this. It's more beyond just sharing my story of what I am passionate about."

 Tell us how you felt about the Staff Pick experience.

Mayumi: It was truly, tremendously exciting. It really meant a lot, to everyone, since this film had an important social message, and we all wanted it to have a reach, not just because each of us put in a lot of effort to the project, but also because this message was one that had to be delivered in the moment, as well as. The film was released during Asian Heritage Month, so it's important to ensure that a lot of viewers saw and felt the message. The staff also did their part to boost that. I was really happy with that.

I was acquainted with Staff Picks, and I just thought, "Oh, that's the cool people group." It led me to think "Oh is it me? Am I worthy?" And now I just feel like it's just awesome friends who hang out. I'm grateful to be part of the circle.

 What's next for you?

Mayumi: What's coming up for me is my first feature that is based on my very first short film AKASHI. It's been a long journey and I'm just excited that we get to film this. I'm really excited to show it at these really cool festivals and to share it with , in the future.