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Cross-Border LGBTQ+ Drama 'Polaris' Debuts at Tokyo Gap-Financing Market

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. olaris-debuts-at-tokyo-gap-financing-market.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Monday, October 27th 2025 at 19:37 GMT by Variety
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“Polaris” Shines a Cross‑Border LGBTQ Spotlight at Tokyo Market

Variety’s feature on the film “Polaris” dives into the journey of a queer romance that straddles the cultural divide between Canada and Japan, positioning the narrative as both a personal love story and a broader commentary on identity, migration, and belonging. The article situates the film at the Tokyo Market, where distributors, festival programmers, and media executives converge to discover new stories that resonate across borders.

Plot and Themes

“Polaris” follows the life of Natsuko, a Japanese engineer living in Vancouver, and her partner, Samir, a Syrian‑Canadian artist, as they navigate the complexities of maintaining a long‑distance relationship amid the backdrop of their distinct cultural expectations. The film’s title hints at the guiding star that draws them together: a shared dream of creating a sustainable community garden that bridges the two countries. In a series of vignettes, the movie explores how love is negotiated through language barriers, familial pressures, and the lingering shadows of refugee experiences. The film emphasizes the power of everyday acts—like exchanging letters, cooking traditional meals, and attending support groups—to forge an intimate bond that withstands the test of distance.

Director and Cast

Directed by Kaito Miyazaki, a queer filmmaker who grew up in the suburbs of Toronto and now splits his time between Vancouver and Tokyo, “Polaris” is the culmination of Miyazaki’s passion for storytelling that foregrounds marginalized voices. Miyazaki’s previous work, “Bitter Harvest”, a short documentary on queer farmers in Alberta, has earned him recognition at the Toronto International Film Festival. Variety’s article links to Miyazaki’s personal website, where readers learn that he studied film at Ryerson University before moving to Japan in 2015 to pursue a Master’s in Cultural Studies at Waseda University.

The film stars Yumi Nakajima as Natsuko and Omar El‑Zahra as Samir. Nakajima, a stage actress with the National Theatre of Japan, brings a nuanced portrayal of a woman torn between duty and desire. El‑Zahra, known for his role in the Canadian drama “Echoes of Home”, portrays a sensitive artist whose art is a language in itself. Variety notes that the chemistry between the leads is palpable, citing their improvisational rehearsals that allowed them to infuse authenticity into their shared scenes.

Production and Funding

“Polaris” was financed through a hybrid model of crowdfunding, provincial arts grants, and a partnership with the Japanese Film Institute. The article highlights the significance of the film’s cross‑border funding, emphasizing how it mirrors the narrative’s themes. Miyazaki explains that the funding partnership allowed the production to shoot on location in both Vancouver’s East Vancouver neighbourhoods—where the Syrian diaspora thrives—and in Kyoto’s bamboo groves, providing visual contrast that reinforces the story’s duality.

Variety also links to the official Kickstarter campaign page, where viewers can see that the project raised $112,000 in under 30 days, surpassing its $90,000 goal. The page includes testimonials from backers praising the film’s vision and commitment to LGBTQ representation in both Canada and Japan.

Tokyo Market Reception

At the Tokyo Market, “Polaris” has attracted attention from major distributors and festival programmers. The Variety piece quotes Kenji Mori of Tokyo International Film Festival’s programming team, who remarks, “This film captures the heart of a generation of queer immigrants who feel caught between two worlds. Its nuanced storytelling is exactly what we’re looking for in 2025.” Another distributor, Studio 8, expressed interest in acquiring the Japanese theatrical rights, noting that the film’s potential for a strong social media campaign aligns with their strategic focus on niche markets.

The article points out that “Polaris” has already been invited to screen at the upcoming Busan International Film Festival and will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Contemporary World Cinema section. Links to the festival’s official pages confirm the film’s place in the lineup and provide details on screening dates and panel discussions.

Critical Analysis and Future Outlook

Critics have praised “Polaris” for its delicate balance of intimacy and socio‑political context. Variety includes a snippet of a review from the Toronto Star, which calls the film “a quiet, elegant ode to resilience.” The piece also references a YouTube interview with Miyazaki, in which he discusses his influences—ranging from the works of Yukio Mishima to the queer cinema of the 1990s—and his desire to create stories that challenge binaries.

Looking ahead, the article highlights the film’s potential for broader distribution. If the Tokyo Market generates a bidding war, “Polaris” could secure a release in both Japan and Canada simultaneously, setting a precedent for cross‑border collaboration on LGBTQ cinema. The article concludes by noting that the film’s upcoming festival circuit may pave the way for a nomination at the Canadian Screen Awards, where Miyazaki has already been shortlisted for “Best First Feature” in the past.

In summary, Variety’s coverage of “Polaris” paints a compelling portrait of a film that is as much a love story as it is a commentary on the intersections of identity, culture, and geography. With strong performances, thoughtful direction, and a story that resonates across borders, “Polaris” stands poised to become a touchstone for queer cinema in the international marketplace.