Documentary Feature AFIN 120
Unearthing Ogawa
Directed by 
Steve Meixell
AFIN 2021 Nominee
- 2021
- 54m
-
USA - English
Stills
1 framePart of this film's cast or crew? Let us know to add or correct credits, genres or details. Filmmaker sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
Credits
Written by
Produced by
Cinematography
Editing
Synopsis
An American finds a dead Japanese soldier in a battlefield cave and tries to return the man’s diary to his Tokyo family after the war. Decades later, the American’s son retraces the footsteps, finds out what happened, and meets the Ogawa clan today. Part history, part travelogue, part memoir, the highly acclaimed Unearthing Ogawa brings the past alive with extraordinary discoveries, surprises, and profound Asian-American goodwill.
Director's Statement
UNEARTHING OGAWA is a small independent film that has quickly blossomed to larger international acclaim in 2022 with its portrayal of how personal goodwill can overcome evil in the world. Audiences in Canada, the US, and Australia have responded hugely with heartfelt feedback and requests for replays. EngageASIA and the US-Japan Foundation both promote the film's dramatic goodwill & advocate its positive Asian-American relations be shown in international classrooms as well. We are grateful to all involved, and thank you for your interest.
What makes this one special
- Programmed at 9 other festivals
- Nominated for Best Feature Documentary
- A first-time filmmaker
Also selected at
2 finalist placings, 7 official selections across 9 other festivals
- FinalistTORONTO Independent Film Festival
- FinalistVANCOUVER Independent Film Festival
- SelectionBOSTON Independent Film Awards: 2022
- SelectionCANNES International Cinema Festival
- SelectionCHICAGO Indie Film Awards: named Best Documentary Feature
- SelectionIndieFEST Film Festival: winner 2 Awards (Best Doc & History)
- SelectionLA Indies: 2022
- SelectionMAINE Film Series (Featured Presentation 2021 & 2022)
- SelectionMONTREAL Independent Film Festival
Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.
Director's Biography
Steve Meixell Director
Steve Meixell is the director, writer, and producer of the independent documentary film Unearthing Ogawa. Meixell was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in literature (The Rubble). He was editor of International Photography Magazine and wrote for Universal Studios and CBS News. His short stories Ivan Ending and Goodbye Brooklyn were Honorable Mentions in The World’s Finest Mystery and Crime Stories (Forge Press). He received the Media Writing Award from Northwestern University’s School of Communication, and writes music essays for the Canadian-based global network Calm Radio. His work has won awards from the International Film & Television Festival, Communication Arts magazine, and was featured as a CLIO finalist.
Trailer
Official laurels
Each recognition carries a permanent, verifiable AFIN credential - a link a filmmaker can put on a CV - plus a downloadable laurel for posters and press kits.
Nominee toolkit
Everything you need to share and credit this recognition.
Ready-made announcement
Copy this for your socials, newsletter or press kit.
Unearthing Ogawa was an official Nominee for Best Feature Documentary at the AFIN International Film Festival 2021, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
Add it to IMDb
IMDb adds festival awards from the festival's event page, not from your film's page.
- Open the AFIN International Film Festival event page on IMDb and choose the 2021 edition.
- Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Feature Documentary) with the outcome shown on your laurel above.
- Submit. IMDb reviews it and publishes it to the event page and to your film's page.