【 Short Drama Pitch Competition presented by Nihonchokuhan Inc.】
Eligibility: All creators (individuals or teams), regardless of whether they are in Japan or overseas. Applications are accepted from individuals, corporations, and voluntary organizations.
● Must be an original project by the applicant or team.
● Applications must be in Japanese or English.
● Use of generative AI is permitted (however, you must state where it was used in the application form).
*【Application Items】 (You are not required to submit everything)
- Storyboard or script for a short drama under 10 minutes
- Plot (approx. 200 words)
- Reference images of the world/setting
- One-sentence description of the work (Logline)
- Music tracks that represent the envisioned atmosphere
- Assumed locations
- Budget estimate
- Portfolio of past works (including samples/viewing links), etc.
*Upload your project proposal (pitch deck) and resume in one file; PDF or ZIP file recommended. Recommended file size: 10GB or less
■ Benefits for Selected Projects
- Production funding of 10 million yen, with production supported by professional editors.
*The winner's level of involvement in the short drama production will be decided upon consultation. If the winner does not participate in production and Nihonchokuhan Inc. purchases the project from the winner, the minimum purchase price is 1 million yen. Payment will be made in accordance with a separate contract to be concluded.
- Credit as "Original Project Planner" upon the release of the work.
- Provision of royalties (distribution) based on commercial profits.
- Issuance of a "Verifiable Credential (VC)" utilizing blockchain technology.
We've compiled answers to frequently asked questions regarding submissions.
Please refer to the following page: https://support.lifelogbox.com/hc/articles/59807113093657.
● Short Film Guidelines●
· Duration: Films must be 25 minutes or under (including end credits).
· Completion Date: Films must be completed after June 1, 2025. 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.
· Refunds: Submission fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
Premiere
· Japan Premiere Required for the International and Asian 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.
USEFUL INFO
For inquiries about filming in Tokyo: Tokyo Location Box
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government provides video content that can be used by anyone in order to convey the attraction of Tokyo as a travel destination in Japan.
You may use footage from: Tokyo Footage & Promotion Video Collection (https://tokyotokyo-video.jp/index_en.html)
Credit requirement: The user must display a credit (Tokyo Tokyo) to indicate that it is video material, or a work made using the video material owned by TCVB.
Screening Formats & Technical Requirements
· Selected films must submit a ProRes file as the screening copy.
· Selected films will need to submit music cue sheets for all music used in the film.
· Works with unresolved rights (music, image, performers, etc.) will not be screened.
· All selected films will also be streamed in the festival's Online Grand Theater.
Shortlist, Festival Tour, Online Screening & other Notes
· Shortlists
We'll announce the shortlists on our official festival website within two months of a film's submission. Films on these shortlists have been pre-selected for further consideration and are the only ones eligible for the final selection.
· Tour
· The National and International Tour of the Festival will take place after the SSFF & ASIA 2027 in Tokyo ends. All selected films will be screened in Tokyo, but not all selected films will be screened at all locations. The filmmakers will be notified in case their films are screened on the tour.
· Other Notes
· By submitting the film, the submitter acknowledges that the Festival has the right to screen the film in any competition or program at SSFF & ASIA 2027 if selected without any screening fee.
· The Festival's parent company will obtain the commercial rights of the award-winning films.
LIFE LOG BOX
Submitted film information and applicant (creator) information will also be registered in LIFE LOG BOX for management and notification of submission status. Information will be managed in association with the applicant. In this case, only the applicant and the festival can access the information. By allowing information about films and directors to be posted on LIFE LOG BOX, that information can be accessed by general visitors to the site. The publication targets only the applicant (creator) information or work information, and the application status and the main content of the work will not be disclosed.
If you want to cancel posting on the LIFE LOG BOX service after posting, please set your content to “private" in your LIFE LOG BOX account.
・If you have previously submitted an entry to the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, an account for LIFE LOG BOX has been issued to the email address used for the entry. The account ID and password have been sent from no-reply@lifelogbox.com. Please log in to LIFE LOG BOX using the account.
For technical issues or guideline clarifications:
https://lifelogbox.com/contact/
Privacy Policy
By submitting a film to Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, the submitter confirms that they are the rights holder of the film and have read, understood, and agreed to all festival regulations and the Privacy Policy, available at:
https://shortshorts.org/en/other/privacy.php
Personal details submitted in the entry process will be used by the competition organizers to contact entrants with information regarding the competition.
We will not respond to any inquiries regarding the selection process or results.
Visit our official website for full details:
https://www.shortshorts.org/en/creators/index
【 Short Drama Pitch Competition presented by Nihonchokuhan Inc】● Important Notes●
- You may be asked to provide documentation verifying the director's age if necessary.
- You are responsible for obtaining permission from the relevant rights holders for both the use of such materials in the film and any subsequent uses, including screenings, online streaming, and credit attribution if your submitted film includes any third-party copyrighted materials, likenesses, or other legally protected content.
- The applicant acknowledges in advance that the Organizer or other parties may already possess, be considering, or be developing concepts before the submission, or may independently develop concepts without relying on the submitted work, that are similar to the submitted work.
-The applicant agrees not to assert any claim against the Organizer or any other party, including claims for infringement, compensation, damages, or any other claims, solely based on such similarity.
■ Rights and Contracts
- Upon being selected as a winning project, you will be required to conclude a contract regarding this project with Nihonchokuhan (hereinafter referred to as "this Contract").
- No rights or obligations shall arise between the applicant and Nihonchokuhan regarding this selection until this Contract is concluded in writing. Furthermore, regarding the legal relationship between the applicant and Nihonchokuhan after the conclusion of this Contract, all shall be in accordance with the contents of this Contract.
- The contents of the above Contract will be fully explained at the time of the interview and before the conclusion of this Contract, and the contract will be concluded only after your consent. Please rest assured that submitting an application does not imply acceptance of this Contract.
