21th Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market // Sapporo Short Fest 2026: will be HYBRID, included online screening within Japan.

Japanese description is here https://sapporoshortfest.jp
日本語の募集概要は映画祭公式ページで確認してください。
https://sapporoshortfest.jp/page_update_jp/ssf2026-open-call-jp/

The Sapporo International Short Film Festival continues to attract around 3000 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 65,000 entries from 145 countries. 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 out of competition Japanese shorts programs, along with key industry seminars.

The event date Oct.23-25

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 Screenplay / Best Editing / 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* / Midnight Audience Award / Out door Adventure Cinema Award

*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.

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

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

SSF2025 award films
https://sapporoshortfest.jp/25/awards/?lang=en

Rules & Terms

***
All the Iranian productions are free to submit, but accepting only from April 1 to 30. Please request a waiver code from the form below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvAcDczh4TAsBim4rp1gZkvsOLPEd0RHiCN-oCT_RqpcvvIQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor
***

NEW CATEGORY from SSF2025
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CINEMA COMPETITION; All outdoor sports and outdoor activities are covered. It should be less than 15 minutes. No-dialogue shorts are preferred. It is a parallel competition, different screening condition from main competition. Please read a regulations.
https://sapporoshortfest.jp/page_news_en/outdoor-adventure-cinema-competition2025/
Please submit and remark if your film is applicable to the outdoor sports.

MIDNIGHT programme
We are accepting genre films such as horror, erotic we prefer frivolous genre film. The films would be programmed in our popular Drunken Night programme or Midnight programme.
https://sapporoshortfest.jp/25/programmes/drunken/?lang=en
Please submit and remark if your film is applicable

MAIN COMPETITION
Requirements:
1) Genre: All (including Music video)
2) A film less than 30 minutes including credits
3) Completed after January 1, 2025
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) Submitting the film, submitter or representative committed to the screening if the film is selected.

SUBMISSION
- Submission fee is non refundable
- By submitting to the Sapporo International short Film Festival & Market you accept and agree to entry regulations.

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 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.

12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rhys Prichard

    Thank you so much for hosting our short Film Tulips! Even though we were unable to attend, It was an honour to screen in Japan.

    October 2025
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  • Chavo Photo

    It was an amazing film festival. Thank you!

    October 2024
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  • MADAKTO PICTURES

    It is an honor for us to have a film from Madakto Pictures distribution company selected in the Sapporo Festival, one of the most important short film festivals in Asia. We hope that the films of Madakto Pictures will be noticed in your festival in the future.

    October 2024
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  • ali keyvan

    I am happy that my film was screened in this festival and I am thankful for the award given to the child actor of my film

    December 2023
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  • Omid Abdollahi

    Sapporo is a quality and important festival for short films from around the world. I am happy to have been to this festival for two seasons.

    January 2022
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