If you have a film (or even an idea for a film) that celebrates the beauty of Tokyo and you want the chance to win 1 million yen (about $8880 USD) in prize money, the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia is now taking short film entries for its Cinematic Tokyo Competition that have Japan's capital city as the theme of their narratives.
This doesn't necessarily mean you have to shoot in Tokyo. The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia is looking for films that "offer an experience of Tokyo," whether it's the city's many attractions, shops, or even your own personal memories, impressions, or expressions. Your film, which must be no longer than 25 minutes, can be any genre and in any language, as long as you provide English subtitles if it's anything other than English or Japanese. Best of all, anyone anywhere in the world may participate.
Not only will the winner of the Best Short Award will receive 1 million yen (about $8880 USD), but the winner of the George Lucas Award (Grand Prix) will be eligible for nomination at the Academy Awards.
The winner of the 2018 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Cinematic Tokyo Competition was Tokyo Comet, directed by Hiroki Horanai, which follows the story of a young boy, Sho, who begins hitchhiking in search of his brother once news breaks of a comet expected to crash into Tokyo in a year's time.
Director Hiroki Horanai with Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2018.
Check out the trailer for Tokyo Comet below:
If the Cinematic Tokyo Competition isn't your style, you can also enter your documentaries into the new Non-Fiction Competition. The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia has teamed up with Yahoo Japan Corporation to give filmmakers a chance to explore social issues, as well as the rich and diverse stories of people all around the world. Last year, director Reber Dosky took First Prize for his film Meryem, which, filmed during the battle of Kobani in Syria, features the women who lead the fight against IS with the help of American airstrikes.
'Meryem' (2018)
The Japan-born, Academy Awards accredited Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia was brought to life by Japanese actor and SAG member Tetsuya Bessho in 1999 in hopes of introducing Japanese audiences to short films. Having just celebrated its 20th anniversary, it is one of the largest film festivals in Asia, receiving upwards of 10,000 submissions from all around the world every year. To participate, head on over to the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia website to learn how to get started.
