JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is thrilled to co-host a special evening celebrating the Los Angeles premiere of “Tokyo Cowboy,” an award-winning new film bridging Japan and the American West. Directed by Marc Marriott, “Tokyo Cowboy” is a touching and humorous cross-cultural story featuring respected Japanese actor Arata Iura in his American debut, alongside prominent co-stars like Ayako Fujitani, Jun Kunimura, and Robin Weigert.
Fresh off an international festival run where it charmed audiences and won several awards, the film follows a Japanese businessman who arrives in Montana with the goal of revitalizing a struggling cattle ranch, only to find himself transformed in the process. Filmed on location in the bustling neon jungle of Tokyo, as well as the vast, rugged landscapes of Montana, this poignant “fish out of water” tale explores the new perspectives and true friendships that can emerge from unlikely journeys.
Following the screening, the audience is invited to stay for a lively “fireside chat” with director Marc Marriott, producer Brigham Taylor, and co-starring actress Robin Weigert known for her roles in TV series like “Deadwood” and “Big Little Lies” among others. They will share behind-the-scenes insights into the film’s production and inspirations, including the director’s own experiences working in Japan early in his career, and reflect on the unique challenges and rewards of crafting a US-Japan collaborative production and assembling with a thoroughly international cast and crew. After the discussion, guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments. Don’t miss the debut of this heartwarming and visually stunning film, and along with its creators, explore the beauty of cross-cultural connection, in storytelling as well as in life.
Program Schedule
*Subject to change.
- 6:00 PM | Doors Open
- 6:30 PM | Opening Remarks
- 6:40 PM | Screening of “Tokyo Cowboy”
- 8:40 PM | Fireside Chat
- 9:10 PM | Networking with light refreshments
About the Film “Tokyo Cowboy” (2024)
Brash businessman Hideki arrives in Montana having convinced his Tokyo bosses he can turn a profitless US cattle ranch into a premiere-performing asset. Yet when his Hardee’s-burger-loving Japanese Wagyu-beef expert fails him, Hideki is poised to misfire magnificently unless he identifies a missing element that’s key to the transformation… himself.
Note: Film contains Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.
Tokyo Cowboy releases to theaters nationwide starting Aug. 30th, 2024.
© Salaryman Films LLC
About the Director
Marc Marriott is an award-winning producer/director of television and film. At the start of his career, Marriott lived in Japan and apprenticed with renowned Japanese filmmaker Yoji Yamada. The creative seed for “Tokyo Cowboy” was planted during that time. This is his first feature film as a director. During his professional career, Marriott has earned a reputation as a specialist in stories of real people in extraordinary situations; from the History Channel’s “AX MEN,” to the Discovery Channel’s “Roush Racing: Driver X.” He’s been a Series producer and …
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Director for The Discovery Channel, History Channel, FOX, VH1, TLC, and The Travel Channel, among others. Marriott is a graduate of the Masters directing program at UCLA. His first film, “Short Order” won the Prix Canal Plus at the Henri Langlois International Film Festival in France and his short film “The Snow Child” played at Cannes. He has received the Independent Film Channel Award and the Jimmy Stewart Crystal Heart Award from the Heartland Film Festival. Marriott is a member of the Producers Guild of America.
About the Producer
Brigham Taylor is a feature film producer best known for producing live-action Walt Disney Studios films. He produced “The Jungle Book” with director Jon Favreau, “Christopher Robin,” and “Lady And The Tramp” as one of the marquee launch titles for Disney+, along with “The One And Only Ivan.” He was an executive producer on “Tomorrowland” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Other projects in development include adaptations of “The Rocketeer,” “The Rescuers,” “Ichabod Crane,” and more. Brigham has been associated …
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with Walt Disney Studios since 1994, when he joined the company as a production assistant and grew to Executive Vice President of Production. As an executive, he oversaw many of the studio’s blockbuster films, including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, “Tron: Legacy,” “Chronicles of Narnia” and “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” Brigham is a member of the Producers Guild of America.
About Actress Robin Weigert
Robin Weigert is most recognizable from her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the iconic gunslinger ‘Calamity Jane’ in Deadwood (the series and the subsequent movie revival for HBO), Weigert played therapists in the box office hit Smile and opposite Nicole Kidman in the much-lauded SAG 2020 Best Ensemble contender Big Little Lies, attorneys in the popular cabler Sons of Anarchy and she was nominated for a Gotham Award for her portrayal of a housewife turned prostitute, the central character in the award-winning indie Concussion.
Co-Presented by
