Kayo Hatta - Other Projects

Other Projects

Hatta directed a number of short films, including Otemba ("Tomboy") (1988), a semi-autobiographical film which the Pan-Asian Filmmakers Foundation cited as one of three "Defining Moments in Asian American Cinema." Despite the success of Picture Bride, however, Hatta was unable to find studio financing for her subsequent feature film projects, which included a screen adaptation of Cynthia Kadohata's acclaimed novel The Floating World (1989), about the transient life of a young Japanese-American girl and her family following their release from the World War II internment camps. In 1999, Hatta narrowly lost out on the chance to direct the film adaptation of Snow Falling on Cedars, in which Youki Kudoh played a starring role.

As a collaborator, Hatta played key roles in the development and production of several independent films. She was co-producer of the award-winning film "The Olive Harvest" (2003), a romantic allegory of Palestinian culture today, directed by Hanna Elias . The film was the Palestine Authority's entry to the 2005 Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, and was recognized at the 2003 Cairo International Film Festival as "Best Arabic Film." Hatta was cinematographer " for Liz Cane's documentary film "Eager for Your Kisses: Love and Sex at 95" (2006) a portrait of the filmmaker's 95-year-old grandfather. She is also remembered for her involvement in social justice issues, and for her mentorship and support for emerging Asian American artists and filmmakers . She served on the Board of Directors for Independent Feature Projects/West "Project Involve" Mentorship Program and was Assistant Professor at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and the Art Institute of Los Angeles, where she taught film directing and video production. She also served on the dramatic film jury at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

In 2005, Hatta completed work on Fishbowl , which she wrote, directed, and co-edited; the film is based on the novel, Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers, by Hawai'i author Lois-Ann Yamanaka. Hatta had intended to adapt the novel into a feature-length film but was unable to secure sufficient funding, so she decided to make a 30-minute short film around a few key episodes in the book. . The coming-of-age tale of plantation kids searching for a better life premiered at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS in March 2006. "Fishbowl" won the 2006 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Hawaii Film & Videomaker Award. In May 2007 the film also won a Regional Emmy Award (Northern California/Hawaii Area), in the category of Historical/Cultural – Program/Special.