16th Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market // Sapporo Short Fest 2021: HYBRID edition

The Sapporo International Short Film Festival continues to attract between 3000 and 3500 entries per year across all genres cementing its reputation as one of Japan's largest and most respected showcases of short form cinema. The festival offers one of the best opportunities available for filmmakers looking to expose their creative works to large audiences and to submit for appraisal by high profile international jury members in the heart of the burgeoning Asian transnational film scene.

Since its inception in 2006, the festival has received more than 50,000 entries from 145 countries and boasts an average annual festival audience of 8,000 film enthusiasts. The high volume of entries each year allows for the curation of an extensive and diverse array of programs of both Japanese and international films of the highest quality in various competitive categories. Selected films are professionally showcased, subtitled in Japanese, and screened in the state of the art cinema surroundings.

The Japanese and International programs in competition are complemented by specially curated programs by the festival and industry partners from around the world, an extensive selection of off- theatre Japanese shorts programs, along with numerous industry workshops and seminars. A total of around 100-200 films are screened each year in competition and in one-off boutique programs.

Sapporo Short Fest on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/sapporoshortfest

Awards & Prizes

The Grand Prix Film & Category Awards
Best Director / Best National Short / Best Hokkaido Short /
Best Contemporary & Experimental Short / Best Animation / Best Documentary / Best Mini Short (Under 5 min) / Best Non-Dialogue Short / Best Student Director / Best Original Score / Best Children Short* / Best Comedy*

*Best Children Short Award: Children jury who is under 12 years old will choose the award.
Nominated films are chosen from the Family & Children programme.

*Any documentary/drama shorts film ESG / SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) subject are very welcome.

Optional Awards: depending on the official selection
Best Screenplay / Best Editing / Best Cinematography / Best Actor, Actress / Best Child Actor, Actress

These awards are judged by high profile and influential creative talent and industry professionals invited to participate as members of its awards committee Jury each year.

SSF2020 award films
https://sapporoshortfest.jp/20/en/awards/index.html

Rules & Terms

SSF2020 Regulations for FFW.PDF
https://sapporoshortfest.jp/pr/2021/ssf2021_regulations_FFW_EN_01.pdf

Requirements:
1) Genre: All (including Music video)
2) A film less than 30 minutes including credits
3) Completed after January 1, 2020
4) No Screening fee for selected films
5) Accepting online and physical screening: Japan only or global(optional)
6) Screening formats Apple ProRes or H.264, No DCP
7) Screening and preview file must be subtitled in English if the main language is not English. No closed captioning.
8) All films must have an English/International title
9) If submitting the film, submitter or representative committed to the screening if the film is selected.

SUBMISSION
- All international, non-Japanese production films should submit from FilmFreeway.com
- Submission fee is non refundable
- By submitting to the Sapporo International short Film Festival & Market you accept and agree to entry regulations.
- Any SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) related subject films are welcome to accept.
https://sdgs.un.org/

NOMINATION AND SPECIAL SIDE PROGRAMMES
Selected official selection will be announced on the festival's official website.
Selected films will be notified personally besides public announcement.

INTERNATIONAL JURY AND AWARDS
The festival organizer will appoint 3 to 5 International jurors.
International competitive films are nominated for Grand Prix, category awards and additional special awards.
The prize money and merit will be depending on sponsors' support.

＊日本制作作品でワールドプレミアを希望される場合は、募集日程が違いますので、www.spotrights.jp よりご応募下さい。
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hiroya Sakurai

    I was impressed with great energy from director and staff to love our films. It is amazing!
    Thank you for organizing the festival in difficult time by COVID-19.
    I enjoyed and learned great films on the program by this festival.

    November 2020
    Helpful
  • Ethan Wearn

    Thanks for presenting my short film "Losing Heaven" a short environmental documentary. The staff are wonderful and the communication was great. I highly recommend this festival.

    November 2020
    Helpful
  • Mary Lou Belli

    I have multiple films in this fest over multiple years and it continues to delight! The folks are so friendly and so dedicated to film both in their own country and internationally. Sapporo as a city is so metropolitan and has great food and accomodations. I would highly recommend this fest to anyone!

    October 2018
    Helpful