When the Fire Sleeps

Runtime: 93'

Expected release: November 2026

Production stage: Post-Production

Budget: €259,440 (80% in place)

1st feature: Yes

Looking for: Festivals, Sales Agents, Distributors, Gap Financing

Synopsis:

Daughter of Fuji is a character-led documentary about Keiko, a Japanese woman in her fifties who teaches pubescent virgins the sacred dance to calm Mount Fuji. When Keiko questions this patriarchal tradition and faces the threat of an erupting volcano, she must choose between resigning or reinventing the tradition. The film prompts reflection on women’s struggle against traditional gender roles.

Director’s Profile:

Eri Mizutani is a director from Kyoto who has made Poland her second home for the last 10 years. She graduated from TAMA Art University in Tokyo and excelled in film directing at the Polish National Film School in Łódź. Her short documentary Their Voices was selected for BBC LongShots Film Festival and DOK Leipzig Panorama, and awarded at the 21st MECAL Pro Barcelona, among others. Daughter of Fuji won Best Pitch at the prestigious European Work in Progress during Film Festival Cologne, took part in the Polish Docs Pro showcase at IDFA 2020, and has received international recognition at DMZ, Sunny Side of the Doc and DOK Leipzig, among others.

Producer’s Profile:

Sara Skrodzka is a Paris-based producer and archival producer, and a partner at Warboys Films, which she joined in 2023. She is currently developing a diverse range of projects that leverage her extensive experience in international productions and archival work. Sara is passionate about supporting projects by committed, inclusive creators and is dedicated to championing both emerging and established filmmakers. Among the films she has worked on is Johan Grimonprez’s Oscar-nominated documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d’État, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The film won the World Cinema Documentary Award at the 2024 Sofia International Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award in 2024.Her most recent production includes Closure by Michał Marczak, which premiered at Sundance 2026 and won the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.