PRESS

VARIETY
“… gave me an even greater appreciation of how America’s pastime can transcend borders.” - Ken Burns
Luis Valdez Doc Garners the $200,000 Library of Congress/Lavine/Ken Burns Prize
by Addie Morfoot | October 22, 2025

LOS ANGELES TIMES
Shohei Ohtani highlighted in film about Japanese, U.S. baseball
by Bill Shaikin | October 19, 2025

THE JAPAN TIMES
“More than a sports story, ‘Diamond Diplomacy‘ is a reflection on friendship, memory, and the ability of a simple game to transcend borders.”
New film explores how Japan and the U.S. found common ground through baseball
by Jason Coskrey | October 16, 2025

RAFU SHIMPO
“Rarely do sports documentaries feel this fresh. A must-see for baseball fans, blending history with cultural contrasts between U.S. and Japanese training styles. Insightful, powerful, and one of the best in years.”
Newport Beach Film Festival to Screen Documentary ‘Diamond Diplomacy’
by staff | October 12, 2025

THE SENTINEL RECORD
“… beautifully showcases how the sport can bridge cultures…”
Sister City Foundation sponsors screening of ‘Diamond Diplomacy’ at Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
by staff | October 4, 2025

PATCH
“..powerfully illustrates how sports can foster international healing, connection and resilience.”
”More than a sports documentary, it's a moving reflection on friendship and resilience.”
Film Exploring Japan-U.S. Relationship Through Baseball Will Premiere At Mill Valley Film Festival
by Albert Gregory | September 30, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
”…compelling…”
Mill Valley Film Festival preview: A musical SF "love letter"
by James Ambroff-Tahan | September 30, 2025

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
”Fans of the San Francisco Giants and sports in general won’t want to miss Yuriko Gamo Romer’s look at how a love of baseball shaped relationships between Japan and America.”
Mill Valley Film Festival 2025: 14 films you need to see
(East Bay Times, The Mercury News, Marin Independent Journal)
by Randy Myers | September 29, 2025

FANBOY NATION
“More than a sports story, ‘Diamond Diplomacy‘ is a reflection on friendship, memory, and the ability of a simple game to transcend borders.”
Director Yuriko Gamo Romer Talks ‘Diamond Diplomacy’ at NBFF – Interview
by R.C. Samo | October 16, 2025

BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
”Fans of the San Francisco Giants and sports in general won’t want to miss Yuriko Gamo Romer’s look at how a love of baseball shaped relationships between Japan and America.”
Mill Valley Film Festival 2025: 14 films you need to see
(East Bay Times, The Mercury News, Marin Independent Journal)
by Randy Myers | September 29, 2025

YAHOO NEWS JAPAN
大谷翔平へと続く日米の野球史を描くドキュメンタリー完成。初のMLB選手・村上雅則氏も、日本公開を熱望
(Documentary Tracing Japan–U.S. Baseball History Leading to Shohei Ohtani Completed — First MLB Player Masanori Murakami Hopes for Japanese Release)
by Hiroaki Saito | October 10, 2025

8ASIANS
“… makes a convincing case that the game has been a vital factor in bringing our two countries closer.”
Documentary ‘Diamond Diplomacy’ Premieres at 48th Mill Valley Film Festival
by John Lin | October 9, 2025

BROKE-ASS STUART
“A cultural migration takes place… an amazing story…”
Mill Valley Film Festival 48 Preview
by Peter Wong | October 5, 2025

KPFK FILM CLUB
“… appealing… captivating…”
Diamond Diplomacy (2025) - KPFK Film Club Review
by Richard Alaniz | October 4, 2025

THE WASTELAND REVIEWER
“… interesting and thorough… really broadens your perspective… fascinating… engaging, well-made, well-paced documentary”
Diamond Diplomacy (2025) - Wasteland Documentary Film Review
by Shane Conto | October 3, 2025

OVERLY HONEST REVIEWS
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“… one of those rare films that doesn’t just tell the story of a sport, but instead reshapes how we understand its place in the world.”
A Shared Pastime Softening Hard Politics
by Chris Jones | October 3, 2025

YNOT AT THE MOVIES
”...a moving testimony to the power of a game that can build bridges in a divided world.”
Festival Curtain Raiser
by Tony An | September 26, 2025

ASIAN MOVIE PULSE
”…a love letter to baseball across the US and Japan…”
Asian/Asian diaspora films screening at 48th Mill Valley Film Festival, October 2-12, 2025
by Grace Han | September 23, 2025

WE ARE RESONATE
“…explores this unlikely connection, showing how baseball became a powerful force for diplomacy, surviving war, racism, and political tensions to become a shared national pastime.”
Diamond Diplomacy: How Baseball Became a Bridge Between America and Japan
by Jun Kit Man | September 12, 2025

REALSCREEN
Luiz Valdez bio-doc “American Pachuco” wins Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize
by Justin Anderson | October 23, 2025

HOT SPRINGS SENTINEL RECORD
‘Wolves,’ baseball get 34th Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival to a strong start
by James Leigh | October 12, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
SF is at center of diamond in new U.S-Japan doc
by Greg Wong | October 12, 2025

THE MAINICHI
“… chronicles major chapters in the baseball history…”
New documentary highlights baseball's role in Japan-US ties
by George Galer | October 9, 2025

DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
“… another smart tie-in…”
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Chief Ken Jacobson On Welding Together A First-Class Program, From ‘Welded Together’ To ‘The Perfect Neighbor’
by Matthew Carey | October 9, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
How Francis Ford Coppola inspired daring new San Francisco film ‘Brothers Verses Brothers’
by Pam Grady | October 1, 2025

48 HILLS
Screen Grabs: The Big Kahuna of local fall film fests arrives
by Dennis Harvey | September 30, 2025

DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival To Host Top Oscar Contenders, Scorsese Docuseries, Honor Filmmakers Jon Alpert, Geeta Gandbhir
by Matthew Carey | September 28, 2025

WICHITA EAGLE
Tallgrass Film Festival unveils lineup with 188 films and 14 world premieres
by Rod Pocowatchit | September 25, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
How to navigate the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival
by G. Allen Johnson | September 24, 2025

KWMR AIRWAVES
Interview with Yuriko
September 23, 2025

HAUTE LIVING SF
”Closer to home, MVFF proudly spotlights Bay Area filmmakers…”
The 48th Mill Valley Film Festival: 11 Days of Cinema, Stars, and Stories
by staff | September 22, 2025

VIMOOZ
48th Mill Valley Film Festival Reveals Lineup – Closing with Rental Family Starring Brendan Fraser
by Terry P. | September 16, 2025

VARIETY
Newport Beach Film Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup: ‘Wake Up Dead Man,’ ‘Sentimental Value,’ ‘Frankenstein’ and More (EXCLUSIVE) 
by Leia Mendoza | September 16, 2025

CINEMA SENTRIES
26th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Announces Festival Line-up 
by staff | September 16, 2025