When 28-year-old aspiring journalist Shiori Ito goes public in May 2017 with her 
rape allegation against Prime Minister Shinzo 
Abe’s closest journalist and biographer, she feels she has no other choice in order to change Japan’s antiquated sexual assault laws. Her press conference shocks the public in a society where speaking up on such matters is considered shameful. Within days, Shiori is swept into the center of Japanese politics — the right wing views her as a threat to bring down the Abe government and the left hails her a hero for the same reason. Death threats, cyberbullying, and 
hate mail take Shiori into a downward spiral. When she files a civil case, the accused rages all-out war against her. Determined not to set a bad example for other victims, Shiori pushes forward with her case and resolves to publish a book about her experience. Directed by herself with the most personal of material, BLACK BOX DIARIES captures Shiori’s tumultuous, heart-wrenching, and ultimately triumphant journey, going behind the headlines to reveal what it has been like to walk in her shoes. The 
documentary reveals the personal toll of a society’s web of politics, media, and technology on the humanity of its individuals. Being both victim and journalist investigating her own case, the documentary shows that what Shiori did was not only to create social change but ultimately to keep herself alive. Director and Subject, Shiori Ito joins us to talk about her emotionally grueling five year journey to tell her story, the challenge of being a journalist and a filmmaker, as well the support she received from Swedish journalist and filmmaker Hanna Aqvilin, and her videographer friends.
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Los Angeles – Laemmle Royal
Friday, November 1
San Francisco – Roxie
Friday, November 1
Chicago – Gene Siskel Film Center
Friday, November 1
**IDA 2024 Emerging Filmmaker Award**
**DOC NYC Short List – 2024 Documentary Features**
**Golden Eye Award for Best Documentary – 2024 Zurich Film Festival**
**Audience Award – 2024 Zurich Film Festival**
**Human Rights Award – 2024 CPH:DOX Festival**
**Special Jury Award – 2024 San Francisco International Film Festival**
**Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision – 2024 Seattle International Film Festival**
**Audience Award – 2024 New Zealand International Film Festival**
**Audience Award – 2024 Sarajevo Film Festival**
About the filmmaker – Shiori Ito is a director, producer, camera person, journalist, and writer. Her primary focus is gender-based human rights issues. She co-founded Hanashi Films, a Tokyo and London-based production company that has collaborated with NHK, BBC, and Al Jazeera, amongst others. In 2017, Shiori wrote the book “Black Box,” based on her own experience of rape. The book reveals the sexism in Japan’s society and institutions and won the Free Press Association of Japan Award for Best Journalism in 2018. It has been translated into a number of languages. In 2020 she was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. BLACK BOX DIARIES is her feature documentary debut. For more go to: shioriito.com
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“Shiori Itō changed the world. And Black Box Diaries is a monument to her determination and sacrifice, as well as one of the best documentaries you’ll see all year.” – Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone
“A pulverising illustration of truth and its consequences.” – Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International
“A remarkably intimate non-fiction exposé about the ordeals women suffer after being sexually assaulted—and the strength, courage and togetherness required to change that status quo.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
“Throughout the film we viscerally feel Ito’s courage as speaks truth to power.” – Marya E. Gates, RogerEbert.com
“Ito’s work is more than breaking down a systemic pattern of abuse but redefining how a country protects women, so it is a compelling mission that needs to be supported.” – Katie Smith-Wong, Flick Feast