“IDOLS†has fast become a phenomenon in Japan as girl bands and pop music permeate Japanese life. TOKYO IDOLS – an eye-opening film gets at the heart of a cultural phenomenon driven by an obsession with young female sexuality and internet popularity. This ever growing phenomenon is told through Rio, a bona fide “Tokyo Idol” who takes us on her journey toward fame. Now meet her “brothersâ€: a group of adult middle aged male super fans (ages 35 – 50) who devote their lives to following her—in the virtual world and in real life. Once considered to be on the fringes of society, the “brothers” who gave up salaried jobs to pursue an interest in female idol culture have since blown up and have now become mainstream via the internet, illuminating the growing disconnect between men and women in hypermodern societies.
With her provocative look into the Japanese pop music industry and its focus on traditional beauty ideals, filmmaker Kyoko Miyake confronts the nature of gender power dynamics at work. As the female idols become younger and younger, Miyake offers a critique on the veil of internet fame and the new terms of engagement that are now playing out IRL around the globe.
Canadian Premiere May 1, 2017 at Hot Docs
World Premiere at Sundance 2017
European Premiere at CPH:DOX 2017
DOCVILLE 2017, March 2017
Hawaii International Film Festival, April 2017
Nashville Film Festival, April 2017
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, April 2017
Northwestfest, April 2017
IndieLisboa 2017, May 2017
San Francisco DOC FEST, June 2017
Fantasia Film Festival, July 2017
JAPAN CUTS New York, July 2017
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTSÂ , August 2017