Skin Deep (1995 film)

Skin Deep is a 1995 Canadian film directed by filmmaker Midi Onodera and starring Natsuko Ohama, Melanie Nicholls-King, and Keram Malicki-Sánchez.

Plot
Skin Deep tells the story of an award-winning director, Alex Koyama (Natsuko Ohama), who is in the process of making a film about the tattoo industry, and the love and obsession that can arise in the "skin art" culture. Conflict develops between Koyama and her lesbian lover / assistant, Montana (Melanie Nicholls-King) when Koyama hires a new production assistant, Chris (Keram Malicki-Sánchez), who is transgender and quickly becomes obsessed with Koyama.

Production
Skin Deep was written, directed, and co-produced by Onodera. It was produced in cooperation with the National Film Board of Canada, with funding from
 * the Canada Council
 * the Ontario Arts Council
 * Canadian Heritage: Multiculturalism Program
 * National Association of Japanese Canadians
 * Racial Equity Fund – OFDC & LIFT
 * the Toronto Lesbian & Gay Appeal

Reception
Skin Deep was awarded the Best Feature Film: Audience Award at the 1995 Hamburg International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.