Much parsed and puzzled over, Shohei Imamura’s famous pronouncement, “I’m a country farmer; Nagisa Oshima is a samurai” may be ambiguous in tone and intent—is it ironic, invidious, deferential?—but it emphasizes the directors’ differences: class, stylistic, and otherwise. Often paired as twin avatars of the Japanese New Wave, a term Oshima (born in Kyoto, 1932) took every opportunity to spurn and…

The Walker’s Women with Vision international film festival recognizes the unique contributions and perspectives women bring to the art of filmmaking. It also provides a showcase for their remarkable and poignant stories and documentaries. Films featured this year explore issues that often pertain to vulnerable populations in a variety of countries and cultures. Among these is Older Than America…

Public engagement, access, and community storytelling are the major reasons I found myself attracted to documentary filmmaking. With my first documentary, Witness, I saw the need for exhibition venues that are open to young people and that could host community conversations. This is when, in 1999, I first experienced the Walker and the Girls in the Director’s Chair program. In March 2007, I premiered my…