Japanese auteur Toshiaki Toyoda takes the spotlight as NYAFF’s Filmmaker in Focus, and it’s sure to be a cinematic event like no other. A visionary auteur renowned for his punk spirit, hypnotic visuals, and fearless storytelling, Toyoda will appear in person for the North American premiere of Transcending Dimensions (2025), a genre-blending fever dream of sci-fi, gangster mythology, and metaphysical wonder. The retrospective will also feature a rare 35mm screening of his cult classic Blue Spring (2001), a landmark film that captured the raw alienation of Japan’s post-bubble youth; 9 Souls (2003), which hijacks the road movie in a surreal, anarchic journey fusing black comedy with quiet yearning.along with a special 20th anniversary presentation of Hanging Garden (2005), a haunting, stylized portrait of family secrets and unraveling façades. We’re also highlighting three of Toyoda’s most powerful short films—Wolf’s Calling (2019), The Day of Destruction (2020), and Go Seppuku Yourselves (2021)—poetic, politically charged works grappling with destruction, resistance, and rebirth. From his explosive debut Pornostar (1998) to mind-bending works like Monsters Club (2011) and Planetist (2018), Toyoda has carved out one of the most uncompromising careers in contemporary Japanese cinema. This retrospective is not just a celebration—it’s a journey into the soul of a true visionary.