Yoriko Mizushiri

Yoriko Mizushiri (水尻自子, Mizushiri Yoriko, born 1984) is a Japanese animator and filmmaker based in Tokyo. Born in Towada, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, she is best known for a trilogy of short films exploring the sense of touch — Futon, Kamakura (2013) and Maku (2014) — and for Ordinary Life (2025), which won the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.

Biography Mizushiri was born in 1984 in Towada, Aomori Prefecture.

She made her directorial debut in 2009 with Reina Reina, which was broadcast on Tokyo MX.

Kamakura and Maku were both selected for the short film competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

In 2025, her film Ordinary Life won the Silver Bear Jury Prize in the short film competition at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.

Style Mizushiri's animation style is characterized by hand-drawn and stop-motion animation techniques, often focusing on fragments of the human body and sensory touch.

Filmography and awards Reina Reina (レイナレイナ, 2009) Special mention from a Grand Competition jury member, Animafest Zagreb (2014) Kamakura (かまくら, Snow Hut, 2013) Official Selection, 64th Berlin International Film Festival Maku (幕, Veil, 2014) Official Selection, 65th Berlin International Film Festival Anxious Body (不安な体, Fuan na Karada, 2021) Premiered in Directors' Fortnight, 74th Cannes Film Festival Animation Division Jury Selection, 25th Japan Media Arts Festival Ordinary Life (普通の生活, Futsuu no Seikatsu, 2025) Silver Bear Jury Prize, 75th Berlin International Film Festival (2025) Ōfuji Noburō Award, 80th Mainichi Film Concours (2026)