Ren Meguro Wins Best Newcomer at Yokohama Film Festival

Ren Meguro, who was attending the film festival for the first time, shared with a smile, "When I arrived at the venue, I found myself on stage without knowing what to say." When asked by the MC, "You played a beautiful character, both inside and out. How did you approach the role?" Meguro revealed, "At first, I thought I had to play it beautifully, but director Ayuko Tsukahara taught me the importance of realism, saying, 'Acting doesn't need to be pretty.' That was a significant learning experience in my acting career and provided me with valuable experience." He further commented on his work in "The Wax and Wane of the Moon," stating, "These two films have defined the direction I want and should take from now on." Looking ahead, he added, "I'm 26 now. I hope to gain a variety of experiences while I'm still in my twenties."

Mayu Hotta, who received the Best New Artist Award for her role in "The Girl with the Thick Paint," was met with a round of applause when she revealed, "This is the first time I've received an award for a work since I started this career." She expressed her gratitude to director Keiko Tsuruoka, the staff, co-stars, and fans. Referring to a line from the film, "The more you do Tsugaru lacquerware, the more interesting it becomes and you can't stop," she said, "As someone involved in creating things, that phrase resonated with me. I hope to keep moving forward in my own way. Thank you for your support."

During the filming, Hotta spent three weeks in Hirosaki City, Aomori, which served as the setting for the movie. She recalled with a laugh, "Even on my days off, I didn't go back to Tokyo but started by getting my body accustomed to Hirosaki. The director told me to 'live more absentmindedly.'" When asked about her aspirations as an actress, she responded, "I love acting. I don't have grand goals, but I aim to carefully tackle each thing that comes my way."

Source: Natalie