※We receive considerable amount of films each year, so please read entry requirements carefully! Films which do not meet regulations will not be accepted.

Call for entries of films from all around the world within 5 minutes duration on the theme of peace. UNITED FOR PEACE FILM FESTIVAL (UFPFF) aims at encouraging action towards creating a peaceful world through the use of media images; a universal language shared by all humans.

UFPFF has been held around September 21st, the International Day of Peace, each year since 2011. Since then, the festival has offered space to discuss social and global issues and allowed young filmmakers to spread their messages to the world.

It has contributed not only to put promising young filmmakers in the spotlight, but also to inspire change makers who are working to make the world a better place.

UFPFF 2026 is supported by United Nations Information Centre and International Organization for Migration（IOM）.

[Schedule]

(1) Entry period: March 21st to July 7th, 2026
(2) 10 finalists and their selected films will be announced by the end of July.
(3) The UFPFF Awards Ceremony and screenings of the finalist films will be on September 20th, 2026. All of the finalists will be invited to attend the ceremony at the venue in Tokyo If you are not able to attend the ceremony we are happy to receive your pre-recorded video message. All filmmakers who submitted to the festival are welcome to attend the ceremony.
*Please note that we cannot cover traveling costs to the venue.

[Event outline]

Date: September 20th, 2026, 12:00-19:00 (tentative)
Place: Human-Trust Cinema, Shibuya, Tokyo
Organizer: UNITED FOR PEACE FILM FESTIVAL Co-Organizer: NPO PEACE DAY
Support: United Nations Information Centre, International Organization for Migration（IOM）
Admission Fee：1,000 Yen
Program: Film screenings of 10 finalist films and director's speeches, screening of invited films, a peace talk session, and an award ceremony.

[Jury Members]
Toru Kubota (Documentary filmmaker/ Founder of Docu Athan )
Katsuzo Takahashi (Director, UFPFF)
Kouki Tange (Filmmaker, Professor at Kyoto University of the Arts)
Akihiro Nishizawa (Programmer, Tokyo Theatres Co., Ltd.)
Yoko Yamanaka (Filmmaker)
Sahel Rosa (Actress and TV personality)

Awards & Prizes

[Official Awards]

・Grand Prix
Prize money: 100,000 Japanese Yen

・Second Prize
Prize money: 30,000 Japanese Yen

・Special Jury Award
Prize money: 20,000 Japanese Yen

[Partner Awards]
TBA

Rules & Terms

[Entry Regulations]

Please read through the following list of requirements, and the entry agreement in order to submit your films to UFPFF 2026

Eligibility: students (at any educational institution)
Production year: films produced after 2025
Duration: within 5 minutes
Theme: Peace
Genre: All genres of films are accepted.
Language: Japanese or English (English subtitles required for non-English/Japanese entries.)
Number of entries: maximum 2 individual films
Entry fee: Free
Format: MOV, MP4, AVI, MPEG. We recommend that you finalize your work at the aspect ratio of 16:9.

[Entry Terms and Conditions]

・The selected films of finalists will be uploaded and viewable on the UFPFF YouTube channel.
・If your work includes any individual or faces, please confirm the permissions for use before submitting your film.
・If you wish to use any music or other artwork for which you do not own the copyright, please make sure to get the clearance from the persons or parties concerned (the copyright owners) before you submit your work.
・If you use a third person or third party’s artwork (writing, music etc.), please include the confirmation of this agreement by the artist to our office.
・UFPFF will not accept any responsibility or liability in cases where any personal rights, or copyright infringement should occur.
・We will not be able to return any data or tapes of your work after submission.
・The copyright of each work belongs to the filmmakers, though UFPFF may reserve the right to use some part of your work in order to promote and announce this festival on their website, or in associated sites, within promotions and PR documents, or within certain media like brochures, programs, flyers etc. UFPFF would like to request the complimentary use of your film and work, including the title, your name, profile and portrait for promotion, and at no cost. We reserve the right to edit your work for the same promotional reasons, so please confirm and agree that the moral rights for your work(s) will be permitted for festival promotion related activities.
・Even if certain rights for publicity and promotional use (broadcasting rights, publishing rights, etc.) and the secondary copyrights of your work are transferred to a third party, UFPFF will maintain the same original conditions outlined in the preceding clause. Therefore, when an award-winning filmmaker transfers or sells the rights of the work to a third party, please make sure to include the conditions of the preceding clause in the contract.
・UFPFF may not be able to screen your film if there are any rights-related issues.
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Lera Oleynikova

    Thanks to the incredible festival team for curating such a diverse and inspiring selection of films. I was happy to be a participant of the festival!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for attending. It was a real pleasure to have you at our film festival . Thank you for the new perspective. And congratulations on your award!

  • Maria Julia Gonsalves Crecencio

    Participating in UFPFF was an unforgettable experience! 🌍✨
    I felt truly honored to see my short film The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power being recognized in such a meaningful festival that celebrates peace and humanity.

    This film was born from my desire to turn pain into hope, to show that Black girls can also claim their space and inspire other young voices to believe in themselves. 💜

    Thank you, UFPFF team, for the opportunity, kindness, and inspiration. I will carry this moment forever in my heart. 🙏

    Maria Julia Gonsalves Crecencio – MAJU ❤️
    Curitiba, Paraná – Brazil

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you!! We really wanted to welcome you to Japan , anyway, your film is really inspirational! Touched & moved many people!! Thank you ! and congratulations!

  • Polanco Justine

    This festival is great! I really love how they handle the festival!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your participation and , congratulations selected as one of the finalists. It was a great pleasure to welcome you to our film festival . We hope the best with your future film production and sucucess.

  • E. Kemal Mert

    It is a very meaningful festival, I hope the films we make will raise awareness about peace. I am happy to receive the 2nd prize and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this festival.

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Congraturations ! You have a special talent . Thank you so much for participating and congraturations! We hope the best with your future and very exicted to see future films.

  • Leila Ahang

    I am really appreciate the great Jury and all of you for giving the film a chance to be seen and its message to be heard. I deeply hope that peace come back to middle east and the rest of the world, now more than ever, that Afghanestan is in the grip of Taliban.

    September 2021
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for participating and congraturations! We hope the best with your future and very exicted to see future films.