Between Pictures: The Lens of Tamio Wakayama — A Striking Journey Through History, Identity & Civil Rights
In Between Pictures: The Lens of Tamio Wakayama, director Cindy Mochizuki brings to light a deeply personal and historically resonant journey through the life of Tamio Wakayama, a Japanese Canadian photographer whose lens captured moments of pain, protest, and profound transformation.
Interned as a child during World War II in Canada, Wakayama's story takes a bold and unexpected turn when he joins the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the American South during the 1960s civil rights movement. There, he learns darkroom photography not just as a craft, but as a powerful form of visual resistance.
🎬 Film Title: Between Pictures: The Lens of Tamio Wakayama
🎥 Director: Cindy Mochizuki
📚 Genre: Historical Documentary
🗣️ Language: English
⏱️ Running Time: 70 minutes
📅 In-Person Screening: Sunday, June 8 at 1:30 PM
📍 Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, 10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042
🎟️ Tickets/Passes: haapifest.org/tickets
From Internment to the Deep South: A Visual Witness to Two Struggles
Wakayama’s journey from internment to activism offers a rare and illuminating perspective. Between Pictures traces how his involvement with SNCC—and his close work with Black civil rights leaders—led to a broader understanding of solidarity, justice, and cultural identity.
When Wakayama returns to Canada, his camera becomes a bridge between generations as he begins documenting the Japanese Canadian experience through the lens of art activism—capturing stories of resilience, recovery, and community.
💡 Themes Explored:
Japanese Canadian internment during WWII
Asian and Black solidarity in the civil rights era
Art as resistance and cultural memory
Identity, belonging, and social justice
Don’t Miss the Houston Premiere at HAAPIFest 2025
Join us for a special screening of this powerful documentary on Sunday, June 8 at 1:30 PM at HAAPIFest, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Houston. This is an unmissable event for lovers of history, photography, activism, and untold stories.
🎟️ Get your tickets today at: haapifest.org/tickets