amf_Team
Amerigo Studio was founded by Luca Costa in 2010 and named after his grandfather, Amerigo Gubernati. With studios in Los Angeles and Tokyo, we bring an international perspective and Italian heritage to independent filmmaking.
Luca Costa
小須田留可
Producer / Creative Director
Luca Costa is an Italian filmmaker and creative director based between Tokyo and Los Angeles. His work moves between cinema and visual storytelling, exploring the space where silence, identity, and perception meet. Influenced by both European and Japanese aesthetics, his films reflect a fascination with restraint, atmosphere, and the quiet tension between discipline and emotion. Through his lens, Costa seeks stories that unfold in stillness — where image and emotion replace dialogue, and the smallest gesture can carry the weight of an entire narrative.
After a decade working as a software engineer in Silicon Valley, Costa founded Amerigo Film Inc. in Los Angeles, beginning a new career dedicated to cinematic storytelling and creative direction. After relocating to Japan, he established Amerigo Japan Co., Ltd., initially to produce his feature The Empty Mirror and soon expanding into a full-scale studio producing films, branded content, and visual projects across cultures.
Costa wrote and directed The Empty Mirror (2025), Tokyo Novel — a psychological thriller now in post-production — and Sarajevo, a war film set in 1990s Europe. He is also developing Penitenziagite, following Amerigo Film’s acquisition of the trilogy written by Fabio Cosio, and The Last Egg, an intimate story to be filmed in Italy. Guided by empathy, instinct, and a belief that great stories come from the heart, Costa selects projects that move him — works that feel larger than life and reveal the shared truth beneath every culture.
He lives and works in Tokyo.
Kumi Sai
佐井公美
Producer / Business Manager
Kumi Sai is a Tokyo-based film producer and business manager at Amerigo Japan Co., Ltd., the independent production company working in close partnership with Amerigo Film Inc. in Los Angeles. She was instrumental in establishing Amerigo Japan from the ground up, shaping its structure, workflow, and creative relationships during its early development. Her work spans feature films, branded content, and international co-productions, building strong creative bridges between Japanese and overseas teams while maintaining high production standards and a harmonious working environment.
As producer of The Empty Mirror and Tokyo Novel, Sai played an essential role in bringing both projects from early concept to full completion. She oversaw coordination across multiple Japanese locations, ensured communication between departments, and guided day-to-day production with precision and calm leadership. Her ability to balance artistic intention with logistical reality — respecting the creative process while keeping schedules and resources aligned — has made her a cornerstone of Amerigo’s international filmmaking efforts.
With a foundation in Japanese media, business management, and cross-cultural collaboration, Sai brings instinctive storytelling insight and detail-driven execution to every project. Beyond the creative aspects, she manages budgeting, contracts, and operational logistics, overseeing productions from planning to final delivery. She continues to develop new partnerships and expand Amerigo Japan’s portfolio, fostering an environment built on clarity, efficiency, and collaborative creativity.
Ken Natsuhara
夏原健
Business Development / Associate Producer
Ken Natsuhara is a Tokyo-based business development executive and associate producer at Amerigo Japan Co., Ltd.With a background in marketing and content strategy at Universal Pictures Japan, he brings extensive experience in entertainment, film distribution, and brand development to his role at Amerigo. His work blends business precision with creative understanding — a balance that has become essential to the company’s growing presence in Japan and abroad. Over the years, Natsuhara has cultivated a deep understanding of the Japanese media landscape and the evolving intersection between cinema, brands, and audience engagement.
At Amerigo Japan, he oversees partnerships, client relations, and new business initiatives, helping shape the company’s expansion in both domestic and international markets. Known for his wide network across Japan’s independent and underground film industry, he connects Amerigo with filmmakers, artists, and producers who share a commitment to authenticity and creative innovation. His ability to move fluidly between business and artistry allows him to forge connections that bridge commercial strategy with the spirit of independent filmmaking.
As Associate Producer on The Empty Mirror, Natsuhara contributed to the film’s production logistics and international coordination, bridging creative and operational teams with precision and calm authority. His insight, discipline, and extensive relationships continue to strengthen Amerigo Japan’s foundation — a place where creativity and business coexist in balance, and where meaningful stories are built on trust, collaboration, and long-term vision.