BLACK BOX DIARIES

Shiori Itō was a 28-yr. old aspiring journalist when she was drugged and raped by a powerful political journalist and close ally of then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In the award-winning BLACK BOX DIARIES, Itō courageously investigates her own assault as she seeks to prosecute her high-profile offender, believing 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 The film reflects Itō’s need to document her investigation as it unfolds -- and provide a way to journal her innermost fears and thoughts as she correctly anticipates the backlash that would ensue. Death threats, cyberbullying, and hate mail take Shiori into a downward spiral. Shiori’s tumultuous, heart-wrenching, and ultimately triumphant journey unfolds like a thriller that combines secret investigative recordings, vérité photography and emotional first-person video. Itō’s quest ultimately became a landmark case in Japan that exposed the country’s desperately outdated judicial and societal systems. Q and A with director and film subject Shiori Ito following the screening.