Kyoko Yokoma has studied and worked in New York, Istanbul, Toronto as well as her native country Japan. Reflecting her experience in four countries, she has maintained her focus in her work on the challenges and merits of cross-cultural communications and deeper understanding. Her directorial debut Dancing with Lives was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at Female Eye Film Festival, and was screened at New York Asian American Film Festival and Boulder Asian Film Festival. As a producer, Kyoko has produced Sun, Moon and a Star (Güneş, Ay, Yıldız) for CNN Turk which was screened at the Istanbul International Documentary Festival. Kyoko conceived the project while she was living in Turkey in the late 90s, and developed after moving to Canada.
Kyoko has been awarded grants from various art councils in Canada many times and the Japan Foundation, and was also given awards from the Filmmaker Assistance Program and Diversity Director Apprenticeship from National Film Board of Canada. She holds B.A. in sociology and political science and MFA in Documentary Media. She lives in the Toronto area.