Welcome to the IMDb qualifying Tokyo Cinema Awards!

Our mission is to promote films, and be another step up in the filmmakers' careers. Each edition, our jury will award the best films through private screenings. The festival seeks to award outstanding independent films based upon their originality and ability to tell a compelling story. All nominees and winners receive laurels as well as Official Selection laurels for those selected to be in the competition. The competition is dedicated to promoting experienced and new filmmakers through a unique and important international film competition. We are searching the globe for shorts and features of all genres to spotlight and support.

Awards & Prizes

Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Short Documentary
Best Feature Script
Best Short Script
Best Indie Short
Best Director
Best Producer
Best Cinematographer
Best Editor
Best Animation
Best Experimental
Best Comedy
Best Science Fiction
Best Student Film
Best Human Rights
Best Environmental
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Composer

Rules & Terms

1. Submissions for the festival is open to feature films, shorts films, animations, and screenplays of any genre.
2. All films must be presented in their original language with English subtitle. Screenplays must be submitted in English language.
3. Films must have been completed within 6 years of current edition of festival. Premiere status is not required.
4. The submitter must have all relevant copyright permissions for all materials included in the submitted work.
71 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Nya Chambless

    Wonderful to be a part of this extraordinary festival. Thank you, thank you and Cheers!!!

    July 2026
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  • Satyen Bhujun

    Grateful to the Tokyo International Cinema Awards for honouring The Long Journey Home as a Nominee.
    A festival that truly recognises originality, storytelling, and cinema that crosses borders.

    July 2026
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  • Dojong Kim

    Being nominated for the 12th Tokyo International Cinema Awards is a deeply personal honor I never take for granted. Rather than an arrival, this feels like an invitation — to push further, take greater creative risks, and tell stories with more sincerity. I hope to return with a film that truly earns its place here. Thank you for this incredible encouragement.

    March 2026
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  • Tracey Evans

    It was an honor to be nominated. It was a great pleasure to be participate.

    March 2026
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  • Miguel Cadilhe

    Nobody does it better than Japan!
    Thank you so much Tokyo, we are extremely pleased and honoured by your Award.

    January 2026
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