Erik Shirai
About
Erik Shirai is a New York City-based director and cinematographer working around the world on renowned documentaries, TV shows, and commercials. He recently won Special Jury Mention for Best Documentary Director at Tribeca Film Festival for his feature film THE BIRTH OF SAKÉ. The film also won Best Documentary Film at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival and was an Official Selection at San Sebastian Film Festival. He honed his skills as cinematographer for the Emmy Award-winning series NO RESERVATIONS with Anthony Bourdain.
A Place of Absence
A PLACE OF ABSENCE follows filmmaker Marialuisa Ernst’s search to find meaning and connection with Anita and Leticia, two Central American women traveling to Mexico as part of the Caravan of Mothers of Missing Migrants. As the group searches for sons and daughters who vanished en route to the U.S., Marialuisa draws parallels to the emotional turmoil her own mother experienced in the aftermath of her uncle’s disappearance during Argentina’s ‘Dirty War.'