KŪKAI is the first documentary to offer a complete portrait of the life of Kūkai, the great Buddhist monk who braved a perilous sea voyage to Tang Dynasty China in pursuit of the Dharma.

The film marks the feature debut of director Yue Ye, who produced it independently through crowdfunding and worked with a limited budget. Profoundly inspired by Kūkai's spiritual quest, in 2019 Yue Ye resolved to bring the spiritual world and enduring wisdom of this revered monk to contemporary audiences. Over the following 5 years, she worked alongside more than 800 film professionals, whose collective dedication brought the documentary to life.

As of July 2026, KŪKAI has received 8 international awards, including Best Documentary at the London Independent Film Awards. The film has also been officially selected for 40 competition and screening sections across 27 international film festivals. It has been screened nearly 40 times in 20 cities across six countries, with audiences in New York City, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Cambridge, Osaka, and Auckland and more. The film has resonated strongly with audiences around the world and has been widely praised for its depth, artistry, and spiritual insight.