CineYama: Former Netflix Executive Launches an Indie Cinema in Japan

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Yamanashi, just beyond Tokyo’s borders: CineYama has made a name for itself in a short space of time. The new indie cinema in Yamanashi Prefecture is described by Deadline as one of the most talked-about new cinemas in Japan. The project is backed by a former senior Netflix executive.

For Japanese film fans, the current program offers an overview of the most diverse facets of independent cinema: Lee Chang-dong’s genre-bending Possible Love, Dario Argento’s giallo classic Suspiria and Sophy Romvari’s debut Blue Heron are all screening there this week.

Three Films, Three Styles: CineYama’s Current Program

The program’s defining feature is its breadth. With Possible Love, Suspiria and Blue Heron, CineYama is showing three works that differ markedly in their origins.

Deadline describes Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love as a successful mix of genres. Suspiria is Dario Argento’s classic giallo film. Sophy Romvari’s Blue Heron, meanwhile, is her successful debut. The clear concept is therefore: first genre experiments, then film history, then a new voice.

The selection thus feels less like a single film program than an invitation to discover different film cultures in one place. For Japanese film fans, that provides a concrete reason to plan a cinema visit this week.

The Cinema Is in Yamanashi, Just Outside Tokyo

The location is part of the concept. CineYama is located in Yamanashi Prefecture, directly outside Tokyo, according to Deadline. The venue is described there as a special place for film fans—not simply another cinema in the capital.

The location beyond the city limits is a natural fit for an independent cinema: a visit combines film with an excursion into the region southwest of Tokyo. At the same time, the context remains clear, because the report does not indicate how large the venue is, how many seats it has or what other programs are planned for the longer term.

For anyone familiar with Tokyo as a film city, this offers an alternative: not the familiar metropolitan pace, but a smaller film offering in Yamanashi Prefecture that is making a name for itself through its own programming.

A Former Netflix Executive Founded the Cinema

The connection to Netflix is striking. The title of Deadline’s report attributes the creation of CineYama to a former senior Netflix executive. His industry experience therefore provides the biographical starting point for a cinema that has quickly made a name for itself.

It is important to frame this precisely: The sources identify Netflix as the founder’s former employer, not as CineYama’s operator. The new cinema is explicitly described in the article as an indie cinema in Japan and a project in Yamanashi.

The fact that such a young cinema is already considered one of the country’s “buzziest new indie cinema venues” underscores its role as a new hub of Japanese film culture. The term refers to the public attention surrounding CineYama—and does not automatically imply permanent programming or any concrete measure of success.

Why the Current CineYama Program Stands Out

The most striking difference lies in the selection. Possible Love represents a cross-genre approach, Suspiria stands for the Italian horror classic, and Blue Heron marks the beginning of a new director’s career. CineYama is thus presenting not only established works, but also a mix of film history, experimentation and a contemporary independent film.

For visitors, this offers a compact introduction to the venue: three films, three different styles, one place outside Tokyo. And a cinema whose concept is closely tied to the personal story of an experienced Netflix executive.

More information: You can find the current schedule and additional background on Japan’s new indie cinema scene in Deadline’s research on CineYama.