Shigeru Umebayashi is an internationally acclaimed film composer, who has worked with some of the biggest names of the Asian screen, such as Wong Kar Wai (In The Mood For Love, 2046, My Blueberry Nights), Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower) and Jet Li (Fearless, The Dark Sea). Not limiting himself to Asian cinema, he has also composed scores for international titles such as Hannibal Rising (Peter Webber) and Absurdistan (Veit Helmer).
Umebayashi was born in the Japanese town of Kita Kyushi, and started his music career as part of the Japanese New Wave movement in the eighties. He fronted the rock band EX and composed numerous songs for Japanese artists. His film career started in 1984 when he was offered the opportunity to write a song for Japanese actor Yusaku Matsuda, who appeared in Ridley Scott’s Black Rain.
Umebayashi is currently working on the score for Wong Kar Wai’s The Lady from Shangai.
in collaboration with the Ghent Film Festival / part of Almost Cinema
