Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia

- COMMON RULES for ALL the competitions -
1. Duration: 25 minutes or under. No exceptions. Running time includes end credits.
2. Language: English subtitles are required for submissions with languages other than English or Japanese.
3. Online submission ONLY. We do not accept DVD/BD screeners.
4. We will not respond to any inquiries regarding the selection process or results.
Personal details submitted in the entry process will be used by the competition organizers to contact entrants with information regarding the competitions.

【Live-action Competition / International, Asia International, and Japan】
1. Japanese Premieres Only (International & Asia International competition only):
Your film MUST keep the Japan premiere status from August 1, 2024, until Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025 in Tokyo ends. The following cases will affect the Japan premiere status and will be disqualified.
-　Films screened in Japan on any media and for any occasion including screening events, film festivals and so forth before and/or during Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025 in Tokyo.
-　Films streamed online with Japanese subtitles and/or in the Japanese language before and/or during Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025 in Tokyo.
-　Non-dialogue films available online will be ineligible.
*If the film is in a non-Japanese language, has no Japanese subtitles, and is available online outside of Japan, it will still be eligible for the competition.
* Japan Premiere status is not required for Japan Competition
2. Genre:
All genres are accepted with the exception of non-fiction films, animation films, and music videos.
3. Production Year:
The film must have been produced after June 1, 2023.
The festival committee will determine the production date of your film based on the copyright year listed in the end credits.
4. 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, Japan, 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.

<Other things to note>
- Shortlists will be announced every month starting from October 2024.
The Final selection will be made from the shortlists and be announced by the end of April 2025 on the official festival website.
You can check the status of the film festival application from the application status screen within LIFE LOG BOX. LIFE LOG BOX account details will be sent to the email address used for the submission process at a later date.
- The selected film will also be streamed online on the festival's online venue.

【Non-Fiction Competition】
1. 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.
2. Japan Premiere: Not required
3. Genre: Non-Fiction
4. Production Country: All
5. Production Year:
The film must have been produced after June 1, 2023. The festival committee will determine the production date of your film based on the copyright year listed in the end credits.
<Other things to note>
- Shortlists will be announced every month starting from October 2024.
The Final selection will be made from the shortlists and be announced by the end of April 2025 on the official festival website.
You can check the status of the film festival application from the application status screen within LIFE LOG BOX. LIFE LOG BOX account details will be sent to the email address used for the submission process at a later date.
- The selected film will also be streamed online on the festival's online venue.

【Animation Competition】
1. Animation. Animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time. Any animation technique is accepted.
2. Japan Premiere: Not required
3. Genre: Animation
4. Production Country: All
5. Production Year:
The film must have been produced after June 1, 2023. The festival committee will determine the production date of your film based on the copyright year listed in the end credits.
<Other things to note>
- Shortlists will be announced every month starting from October 2024.
The Final selection will be made from the shortlists and be announced by the end of April 2025 on the official festival website.
You can check the status of the film festival application from the application status screen within LIFE LOG BOX. LIFE LOG BOX account details will be sent to the email address used for the submission process at a later date.
- The selected film will also be streamed online on the festival online venue.

【Cinematic Tokyo Competition】
1. Theme: “Tokyo”
“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.
Examples) Films shot in and around Tokyo
Films depicting locations or objects based on the image of “Tokyo”
Films depicting Tokyo 100 years from now
2. Japan Premiere: Not required
3. Genre: All genres
4. Production Country: All
5. Production Year: Not specified
<Other things to note>
-The selected films for this competition will be streamed online on the official festival online venue during the festival period.
You can check the status of the film festival application from the application status screen within LIFE LOG BOX. LIFE LOG BOX account details will be sent to the email address used for the submission process at a later date.

【BRANDED SHORTS】
- Guidelines-
1. Release Period:
Branded movies that have/will have their first release between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
2. Rules for Participation:
Submissions must be videos produced with the aim of communicating the brand or services of a company/organization to its customers. The company/organization can be part of any industry. The movie can be submitted by any relevant party; the company/organization it was produced for, the advertising company, the production company, etc.
- Regulations -
1. In order to promote Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia and Branded Shorts, selected works may be screened/streamed at events or via websites managed by the Committee for Short Shorts (operations company: Pacific Voice Inc.) or other third parties involved.
2. The entering company must receive approval from all related parties.
3. To avoid conflict with the aforementioned stipulation, please ensure that the individual rights relating to writers, performers, musicians, etc. have all been cleared in advance before submitting.
- Other things to note -
1. If the submitted work is in a language other than English or Japanese, please submit an English or Japanese script or dialogue list.
2. Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances.
- Judging Process -
SSFF & ASIA will select nominated works. Nominated works will be introduced on the official website and then will be screened at SSFF & ASIA 2025.
- Criteria -
Submitted works will be evaluated on 8 criteria:
essentiality, ability to change perceptions, shareability, strength of message, viewership retention, originality, timeliness, and memory retention.

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<<Other Information for the Short Film Competitions>>

<FESTIVAL TOUR>
The National and International Tour of the Festival will take place after SSFF & ASIA 2025 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 will be screened on the tour.

<< PLEASE NOTE >>　
-Works in progress will NOT be accepted.
- If selected, filmmakers are required to provide a ProRes file as a screening copy.
- 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 2025 if selected without any screening fee.
- Festival venues, dates, awards, travel awards, etc. are subject to change at any time.
- Submission fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
- Any materials used in your film that are subject to the rights of a third party that is protected by law, such as another person's copyrighted work or portrait, please obtain permission from the rights holder regarding screening, online distribution and credits, etc. If your film is selected, you will need to separately submit music cue sheets for all music used in your submitted film. Any music included in the film that does not belong to any third party and is in the public domain or owned by the rights holder of the film, unless specified in the music cue sheet provided separately, must belong to you.
- The Festival's parent company will obtain the commercial rights of the award winner films.

・ 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, it is possible for that information to 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.

If you have any questions, please contact us using the link below.
https://lifelogbox.com/contact/

Please also confirm the regulations listed on our official website (https://www.shortshorts.org/en/creators/index.php.)

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【Kodansha Cinema Creators’ Lab】
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Please submit your pitch and CV/résumé (please combine your proposal and CV/résumé into one file).
Please provide the information below regarding your pitch. (The short film must be no longer than 25 minutes including opening & ending credits).
Submission Requirements
• Your pitch *A
• CV/Résumé *B
The following are optional:
• Storyboard or screenplay
• Long Synopsis (About 500 words
All of the above formats are free

*A This will be used as a reference during the selection process (it is not a required item).
• Estimated main cast and profiles
• Estimated crew and profiles
• Any visual material that gives an idea of the film
• If the work is currently being filmed, any footage that can be shared
• Proposed locations
• Information on rights status, etc.
• Budget estimate (*The 10 million yen will be awarded even if the budget is less than 10 million yen)
*Please specify if you plan to apply for any investments, financial support, or subsidies from sources other than Kodansha.

*B Requested information on your CV/Résumé

Career history and portfolio of past work (including samples of any films, viewing links, etc.)

■ Films that can be commonly enjoyed around the world are desirable.

■ Any format or genres including live-action, CG, animation, and others are acceptable.

■ Unreleased films (sequels are OK).

■ Basically, we would like to produce original works, but projects using Kodansha novels and manga are also accepted

*Applicants should not contact the copyright holder or the editorial department at the time of application, as Kodansha will contact the copyright holder regarding permission during the final selection process.
Additionally, please refrain from posting content that infringes on third party intellectual property rights such as copyrights, honor rights, privacy rights, or any other rights.

■ Applicants whose projects have passed the first screening will be notified of the results by the end of January 2025 (The results will also be announced on the Kodansha Cinema Creators Lab special page on the SHORTSHORTS official website).
Those who pass the first screening will be individually informed about the second stage interview.

Regarding Rights and Contracts

If your pitch is selected by Kodansha Cinema Creators’ Lab as the award-winning project, you will be required to enter into a contract with Kodansha (hereinafter referred to as the "Contract").

■Until this agreement is concluded in writing, no rights or obligations will arise between the submitter and Kodansha regarding this selection. Furthermore, all legal relations between the submitter and Kodansha after the conclusion of this agreement shall be in accordance with the terms of this contract.

■We will thoroughly cover the contents of this contract during the interview and before signing, and only after your consent will we sign the contract. Please be assured that application does not constitute acceptance of this contract.

Kodansha Cinema Creators Lab Official Website https://www. short shorts. org/kccl/

【Kodansha Branded Pitch Competition】
Kodansha is seeking pitces for branded films that embody Kodansha's
“Inspire Impossible Stories” (IIS) concept. The production budget for the
film is 30 million yen. The prize money is an
additional 3 million yen.

Kodansha is a “story” company. Writers, manga artists, creators, editors, sales staff,
proofreaders... the stories woven by their work and lives, and the stories of the
readers who are connected to them. There are many stories that come and go.
We are committed to creating impossible stories that inspire people’s
heat’s around the world, stories that go
beyond our imagination. We are looking forward to your submissions!

We are looking forward to receiving submissions from a wide range of people,
including directors, producers, screenwriters, animators, CGI creators, production
companies, studios, and others.
Payment will be made in accordance with a separate contract to be concluded after
a consultation.

Who is eligible:
Individuals, corporations, and voluntary organizations are all welcome to apply.

Format of the proposal (required items)
★Pitch proposal
Video storyboard, classic storyboard, or equivalent material that allows us to visually
grasp the finished film.
Please prepare a 15-second version and a 90-second version of the finished film,
respectively.
Estimated production budget
★Resume
Portfolio of background and past work (including samples of past work, viewing links,
etc.)

If you can include the following information in your proposal, we will consider it in our
selection process. (Not mandatory items.)
(1)Potential main cast and their profiles
(2) Potential locations
(3) Information on rights status, etc.
(4) A synopsis or outline of the film
(5) 30-second version of the material■ Any format or genre will be considered, including live-action, CGI, animation, etc.
We can consider pitches the use Kodansha's novels, manga and other publications.

Kodansha will contact the copyright holders to inquire about permission at the time of final
selection. Therefore, we ask that applicants do not contact the copyright holders or the
editorial department at the time of submission. Please refrain from submissions that infringe
on the copyrights or other intellectual property rights, honorary rights, privacy rights, or any
other rights of third parties.
・
Do not publish proposals that make use of existing copyrighted IP (including those on socialmedia, etcPlease be aware that publication of a proposal that includes copyrighted materials of others
or a film based on the plan may constitute copyright infringement.
pass the initial screening
(documents) will be notified of the selection results by the end of November 2024. (The
results will also be announced on Kodansha's corporate website and the official Creators
Lab website). Applicants who pass the initial screening will be contacted■
The completed branded film will be submitted to film festivals in Japan
and abroad.
There is a possibility that no award winners will be selected based on the number of
applications received or the screening process.

Rights and Contracts
■ Upon selection of the Best Branded Film Pitch, you will be required to enter into a contract
(hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) with Kodansha regarding the Pitch.
■ Until this Agreement is executed in writing, no rights or obligations other than those
set forth in the Application Guidelines shall arise between the Applicant and
Kodansha with respect to this selection process. In addition, no legal rights or
obligations shall arise between the Applicant and Kodansha after the execution of
this Agreement. Any legal relationship between the Applicant and Kodansha after the
execution of this Agreement shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
■ The rights of the submitted pitch shall belong to the applicant.
However, in the case of a submitted plan that uses a copyrighted work managed by
Kodansha, the rights also belong to the author, so the submitted plan may not be
published (including but not limited to publication on social media, etc.) without
permission. In addition, if the submitted pitch is made into a film the winning pitch
and the film produced by the applicant may infringe on the rights of the author.
■The rights to the winning pitch and the film produced by the pitch belong to Kodansha.
However, it is possible to include them in personal biographies.
■ The contents of this Agreement will be fully explained at the interview, and the
Agreement will be signed only after the parties have agreed to the terms. Please be
assured that your application does not signify your acceptance of this contract.

Notes:
Please understand that Kodansha will not be able to respond to any inquiries
regarding screening criteria, selection results, or other matters related to the
screening process.

The handling of personal information of applicants obtained and held by
Kodansha in connection with the operation of this pitch shall be in
accordance with the Privacy Policy (https://www.kodansha.co.jp/privacy/)
separately established by Kodansha.

The interpretation and application of the Application Guidelines shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan. The Tokyo District Court shall
be the court of exclusive jurisdiction in the first instance for all disputes related to the
Pitch.
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<Kodansha Lecture Material>.
※ Why are we making a branded film for the whole world now?
What kind of company is Kodansha and what kind of future is Kodansha
heading for?
We are very much looking forward to making a film that will let people
around the world know the “story” of KODANSHA.
For this purpose, we would like you to know more about KODANSHA,
where can I find materials to explore these goals?
We hope you will find them useful as you plan your film.

What does it mean to “Inspire Impossible Stories”? KODANSHA is starting
an initiative to bring KODANSHA's brand to the world.
KODANSHA's Global website
https://www.kodansha.com/jp/
https://www.instagram.com/kodansha_en/
Interviews with KODANSHA employees that show you our corporate culture!
Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kodansha_en/