Biography/ Filmography

Biography:

Born in America, Ian Thomas Ash earned an MA in Film and Television Production at the University of Bristol, UK, in 2004. His first feature documentary, “the ballad of vicki and jake”, received the Prix du Canton Vaud prize at the 2006 Visions du Reél International Documentary Film Festival in Nyon, Switzerland. At the 2012 Rhode Island International Film Festival, Ian’s film “In the Grey Zone” won the Audience Choice Award First Prize for Best Documentary, and at the same festival Ian was presented with the “Filmmaker of the Future Award”. Ian has lived in Japan for 10 years and currently lives in Tokyo.

Awards:

Audience Choice Award First Prize for Best Documentary at the 2012 Rhode Island
International Film Festival for “In the Grey Zone” (2012, Japan).

Filmmaker of the Future Award at the 2012 Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Prix de Canton Vaud (best first film) at the 2006 Visions du Reél International Documentary
Film Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, for “the ballad of vicki and jake” (2006, UK).

Filmography:

“minus1287”, director/ producer. documentary/ 61 min/ Japan/ est 2014.
As she nears the end of life, Kazuko’s observations on love, money, marriage and her own death change, as does her relationship with the filmmaker.

“A2”, director. documentary/ 83 min/ Japan/ 2013.
Eighteen months after the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, children who were not evacuated are found to have thyroid cysts and nodules.

“In the Grey Zone”, director. documentary/ 89 min/ Japan/ 2012.
The children of Minamisoma City living inside the radiation zone head back to school after the nuclear meltdown.

“Jake, not finished yet”, director. documentary/ 81 min/ Japan & UK/ 2010.
The story of two mothers and two sons whose chance meeting seven years earlier changes their lives forever.

“the ballad of vicki and jake”, director/ producer. documentary/ 84 min/ UK/ 2006.
A family struggles with drug abuse, homelessness and their relationship with the filmmaker.