Written by TC Team
Researched by Carey Finn
A festival celebrating all things motion picture, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia will be screening over 250 short movies from around the world, in a series of competitions.
This year’s festival explores the theme “creative active generative”, celebrating the intersection of technology and storytelling, with a focus on the rise of AI-generated content in filmmaking. A total of 4,592 submissions were received from 108 countries and regions.
What happens?
Only screening films with a running time of under 25 minutes, the festival accepts fiction, animation, and non-fiction and also has a sponsored section.
The event has become one of the largest film festivals in Asia since its launch in Japan in 1999 with just six short films. It’s accredited by the Academy Awards — which means a film here that gets a nod qualifies for an Oscar nomination. It goes without saying that the quality is top-notch, and the prestigious event draws good audiences.
Special highlights in 2025 include Marion (produced by Cate Blanchett), Drifting starring Paul Mescal, and Miracle Mile directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk of Squid Game fame.
Schedule 2025
Online screenings begin on Thursday, April 24 and continue until June 30, 2025.
Tokyo screenings will go from May 29 to June 10 at various venues including Omotesando Hills Space O, Akasaka Inter City Conference, WITH HARAJUKU, and more.
There will also be a concert celebrating friendly relations between Japan and South Korea on May 31, with shows at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Takanawa Gateway City.
The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 28 at Takanawa Gateway City, featuring red-carpet appearances by director Shunji Iwai and Korean star Oh Man-seok (Crash Landing on You), along with other notable guests.
Tickets
You can purchase a grand online viewing passport for ¥2,500 (Japan residents) or USD15 (international viewers).
Most tickets for in-cinema viewing are ¥1,500 in advance, and can be reserved on the official website. You can also purchase a passport for ¥7,000.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
