The Yin Yang Master Zero

North American Premiere

Shimako Sato’s The Yin Yang Master Zero is a game-changer for Japanese cinema—it’s the country’s first big-budget fantasy flick directed by a woman, and it’s a doozy. The film brings to life the story of Abe no Seimei, Japan’s most badass onmyoji (yin yang master). These guys were the real deal in the Heian Era (794–1185), using their mad skills in divination, sorcery, and exorcism to keep the capital safe from all kinds of nasties. Sato has crafted a killer origin story that’s sure to spawn a franchise, with jaw-dropping visuals from Shirogumi, the Oscar-winning effects wizards behind Godzilla Minus One, led by Sato’s hubby, Takashi Yamazaki. But it’s not all flash—the film’s got some serious contemporary vibes, with a tug of war between men of magic and men of science, and a deep dive into truth vs. fact. Plus, Kento Yamazaki and Shota Sometani are a dream team as the leads, with a rapport that’s sure to keep this saga going strong.