Introduction to the film festival
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia is an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival, where the winner of the Best Short Awards in the Live-action Competition, Animation Competition, and Non-Fiction Competition will be eligible for nomination in the short film categories of the Academy Awards® the following year.
The festival was founded in 1999 as The Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF). In 2004, it expanded to include a dedicated program for Asian short films and launched Short Shorts Film Festival Asia, with the support of the Government of Tokyo. Now held together as SSFF & ASIA, the festival is one of the largest short film festivals in Asia, taking place annually in Tokyo.
Awards
Live-action Competition】
· International Competition Best Short Award 600,000 Yen
· Asia International Competition Best Short Award/Governor of Tokyo Award 600,000 Yen
· Japan Competition Best Short Award/Governor of Tokyo Award 600,000 Yen
【Animation Competition】
Best Short Award 600,000 Yen
【Non-Fiction Competition】
Best Short Award 600,000 Yen
【Cinematic Tokyo Competition】
Best Short Award / Governor of Tokyo Award 1,000,000 Yen
Rules
· Duration: Films must be 25 minutes or under (including end credits).
· Completion Date: Films must be completed after June 1, 2024. Except for the Cinematic Tokyo Competition.
· Language: Films in languages other than English or Japanese must include English or Japanese subtitles, or provide a script/dialogue list.
· Submission Format: Online submissions only. We do not accept DVD or Blu-ray screeners.
· Refunds: Submission fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
Premiere
· Japan Premiere Required for the International and Asia International Competition
*No screenings in Japan or online streaming with JP subtitles before the festival.
· Japan Premiere is not required for the Japan Competition /Non-Fiction / Animation/ Cinematic Tokyo.
Competitions
· Live-action International, Asia International, and Japan
Genre: All genres are accepted, except for non-fiction films, animation films, and music videos.
Production Country: All. Submissions will be considered in three categories: Japan, Asia International, and International.
Eligibility for each category will be determined by the festival committee based on the following criteria: director’s nationality, shooting location, language of the film, nationality of cast, and source of funding.
Countries for the Asia International Competition are defined as:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rep. of China, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
· Animation Competition
Animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time. Any animation technique is accepted.
· Non-Fiction Competition
Documentary motion picture. It may employ any techniques as long as the film is made as a non-fiction film and the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction.
· Cinematic Tokyo Competition
“Tokyo” must feature in the film. You do not have to show the real Tokyo/shoot in Tokyo, however, as depictions can be based on your imagination or fiction.
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
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Authorization type
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-08-01
Submission start time
2025-09-30
Earlybird Deadline
2025-11-28
Regular Deadline
2026-01-10
Deadline
2026-01-10
Submission end time
2026-04-23
Finalist notification start time
2026-04-23
Finalist notification end time
2026-05-25
Award ceremony start time
2026-06-10
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/09/30
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2025/11/28
Regular Deadline
Standard: 45 Dollar
2026/01/10
Deadline
Standard: 55 Dollar
2025/09/30
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2025/11/28
Regular Deadline
Standard: 45 Dollar
2026/01/10
Deadline
Standard: 55 Dollar
2025/09/30
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2025/11/28
Regular Deadline
Standard: 45 Dollar
2026/01/10
Deadline
Standard: 55 Dollar
Related film festivalMore
View in the applet
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