Company acquires international rights to Ryugo Nakamura’s second feature in five years following The Catcher On The Shore [pictured].

Japan’s Free Stone Productions has picked up international rights to Girl of the Sea, directed by 19-year-old filmmaking prodigy Ryugo Nakamura.

The film is Nakamura’s second in five years – he made his directing debut in 2010 aged just 13 with The Catcher On The Shore, which screened at festivals in Asia and North America. 

Currently in post-production, Girl of the Sea blends fact and fantasy in a story revolving around the US military base in Okinawa, which has divided local residents. 

Nakamura lived in Okinawa for 18 years but was inspired to make Girl of the Sea after living in Japan’s Kanto region as a university student for six months. The independently produced and financed film stars Okinawan singer-actress Cocco and veteran performers from across the Okinawa region

Born in Okinawa in 1996, Nakamura has produced around 30 shorts and won the Takeshi Award, named after leading Japanese director Takeshi Kitano, for his debut The Catcher On The Shore, after entering it into a video contest held by Nippon Television Network.