The Japanese is an executive producer for MINK! - a short documentary directed by Ben Proudfoot, which has now qualified for Oscar consideration.
MINK! (which you can watch here) tells the story of Patsy Takemoto Mink, a Hawaii Democrat who became the first woman of color to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Mink famously co-authored the groundbreaking Title IX legislation that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in schools that received federal funding.
As it stands, MINK! has done the rounds of film festivals that help projects qualify for the Academy Awards. Now, all that remains to be seen is if the short documentary actually makes the list of nominations in the Academy’s final list.
“It means the world to me that Naomi Osaka and The New York Times have chosen to lift up my mother’s story” - Patsy Mink’s daughter Wendy
MINK! premiered back in June, which is when Naomi Osaka and Wendy Mink spoke to Deadline to share their thoughts on the project.
Wendy Mink is Patsy Mink’s surviving daughter, who also tells the story in the short documentary.
In her statement, she highlighted Ben Proudfoot’s brilliance and the importance of telling stories regarding movements for justice. Wendy also expressed her gratitude to Naomi Osaka and the New York Times for choosing to produce the project.
Osaka is no stranger to film and television laurels, having seen her Netflix docuseries Naomi Osaka, directed by Garrett Bradley, contend for the prestigious Emmy Awards.
When she spoke to Deadline back in June, Osaka stressed the importance of telling crucial individual stories that often get forgotten with time.
The four-time Major champion claimed she was inspired by Patsy Mink’s story and asserted that people of color, like herself, would struggle to get opportunities without the vital role of the Congresswoman.
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