Shiori SAITO

We eat every day, yet rarely stop to think about what lies behind our meals. OMUSUBI follows Kana Sugamoto, a woman who once struggled with eating and now travels across Japan sharing the joy of eating through handmade rice balls. As Kana meets food producers across Japan, she uncovers the stories and care behind the ingredients we take for granted. From those who produce our food to the parents who prepare it and the friends who share it with us, every meal carries the care of many hands. The table is where countless acts of love come together.

Shiori Saito is a Japanese documentary filmmaker. She began her career in Japanese television in 2013, working as a director, cinematographer, and editor on documentary and travel programs.

After spending nearly a decade in New York, she became committed to telling stories that connect people across cultures. In 2021, she co-founded the Japan-based production company Mimosa LLC, where she produces documentaries, television programs, and branded films. Her short documentary Floating in Between won the Best Award at SSFF & ASIA 2023. In 2026, she was selected as a fellow of the ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK, where she is developing and directing her first feature-length documentary, OMUSUBI.

At BIFF, she hopes to connect with international co-production partners who share the vision of OMUSUBI and are interested in developing the project together. She also looks forward to exchanging ideas with filmmakers from diverse cultural backgrounds as the project continues to evolve.