Jury
Introducing the SSFF & ASIA 2024 jury members who will select the various awards.
International Competition & Non-Fiction Competition Jury
Hiromi Nagasaku
Actor
Born October 14, 1970, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Debuted as an actress in the drama “Hi no Ataru Basho” (CX) in 1994. Since then, she has been active in movies, dramas, on the stage, and as narrator for TV programs. Other films include, “Funuke: Show Some Love, You Losers!” (2007, directed by Daihachi Yoshida), “Wandering Home”(2010, directed by Yoichi Higashi) “Rebirth” (2011, directed by Izuru Narushima), and “The Furthest End Awaits (2015, directed by Hsiu-Chiung Chiang).” She has won numerous awards, including the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for the movie “True Mothers” (2020, directed by Naomi Kawase).
Ema Ryan Yamazaki
Documentary Filmmaker
Ema Ryan Yamazaki is a Japanese/British documentary filmmaker based in Tokyo, with roots in New York. With a unique perspective as an insider and outsider in Japan, Ema strives to tell stories that empathetically show human struggle and triumph. Her third feature documentary, THE MAKING OF A JAPANESE, premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2023 and is currently playing festivals and in distribution around the world. She has also recently served as Editor and Co-Producer for Shiori Ito’s BLACK BOX DIARIES, which premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance 2024.
Tim Redford
Festival Co-director of Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
MA in Arts Management, Catalonia University (Spain). He worked as Project Manager for Signals Media Arts in Colchester, United Kingdom, before moving to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, to take up the position of Director of Curtocircuito Short Film Festival, which he managed for eight years. He has been co-director for Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival since 2014, in charge of the International Competition, African Perspectives’ programme & international development. He’s also part of the coordination team of the submissions platform Shortfilmdepot.
Asia International Competition & Japan Competition Jury
Sharon Badal
Festival Programmer, Distinguished Teacher at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
SHARON BADAL is former VP of Programming for the Tribeca Festival, with the festival from its inception through the 2023 edition. She spent ten years in distribution and marketing for three major studios followed by extensive live-event producing experience. She is recognized as a Distinguished Teacher at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and created and teaches the Producing in London summer study abroad program. She is the author of Swimming Upstream – A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution. Sharon has been a panelist or juror at numerous festivals and for industry organizations globally and in 2022 was one of six programmers worldwide invited to curate BBC Longshots. At Tribeca she programmed short films for the festival’s Academy qualifying competition programs and produced special projects and events. Sharon received her B.F.A in film and television production and her M.F.A. specializing in cinema studies and business, both from NYU.
Hiroshi Fujioka
Actor / Master of martial arts
Debuted in Shochiku movie. Rose to fame as a hero in “Kamen Rider.” Many starring roles in movies such as “Japan Sinks,” “The Beast Must Die,” “Samurai in the Sky,” etc. He has led the movie industry as an action actor who performs action scenes by himself without using stunts.. Became the first Japanese member of the Screen Actors Guild (Screen Actors Guild) and has close friendships with Hollywood. He is also known as a martial artist who performs serious sword demonstrations overseas, and is well-versed in all kinds of martial arts, including judo, karate, katana-do (swordsmanship), koutaido (self-defense), and others. He has carried out relief and support activities not only in Japan but also in conflict areas and refugee camps in dozens of countries around the world. In the movie “Kamen Rider 1” released in March 2016, Fujioka himself participated in the planning, and returned as the solo lead character Takeshi Hongo for the first time in 45 years, making it a huge hit. The Blu-ray/DVD achieved the highest sales record in the Oricon movie category. Appeared in the same role as “Takeshi Hongo” in three eras: Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa. In 2023, he received attention when he appeared as Nobuhide Orida in the NHK historical drama “Dosuru Ieyasu.” In recent years together with his family, Ai Tensho, Maito Fujioka, Amane Tensho, and Mai Fujioka, who are all involved in the entertainment industry, have been attracting attention as a symbol of family love. In 2024, he will celebrate his 60th anniversary in the entertainment industry.
Katsuhide Motoki
Film Director, President, Directors Guild of Japan
After graduating from Waseda University’s Faculty of Political Science and Economics, joined Shochiku Co., Ltd. as an assistant director. Studied under directors Hiroshi Teshigahara and Keisuke Kinoshita, began work as producer and became a film director in 1998. Has directed films of various genres, mainly comedy, but also fantasy, films with animals, historical dramas, social dramas, etc. His filmography includes the “Free and Easy” Series, “GeGeGe no Kitaro,” “10 Promises to My Dog,” “Battle League Horumo,” and “Samurai Hustle.” Became an independent director in 2017, and has directed “Recall,” “Ninjya Drones?,” “Iwane,” “Angry Rice Wives,” and “Shylock’s Children.” He has won numerous awards including the Blue Ribbon Award and the Japan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year. His latest film “Curling Girls” is scheduled to be released this fall.
Animation Competition Jury
Tom Kawada
Development / AR3Brothers – development unit
Born in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1976. In 1999, began working at a manufacturer’s affiliated company. As he wrote in his “future resume,” worked on all the designs surrounding the company’s website, the server design, a parts ordering system that can be used worldwide, and a patented technology that connects sewing machines and the Internet. Became independent in 2009 as the eldest of the three AR brothers in the development unit. We have expanded into all areas, from entertainment to art, education to industry, Roppongi Hills to Nihonbashi, and from Gakken to secret gadgets. J-WAVE’s “INNOVATION WORLD” is broadcast every Friday, and BS Fuji’s “The Wonderful World of AR Three Brothers.” “THE WAY PASSED FUTURE” is currently being serialized at WIRED magazine.
ShiShi Yamazaki
Artist
Established watercolor style hand-drawn rotoscope animation as a unique style of expression.
her use of a unique pink color has become known as Shishi Pink.
In charge of creating promotional images for brands such as CHANEL, PRADA, and Shiseido, and is active worldwide.
The original animations “YA-NE-SEN a Go Go” (2011) and “Yamasuki, Yamazaki” (2013) have been screened at numerous festivals both domestically and internationally, and have received critical acclaim.
In 2018, officially selected as Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia – Class of 2018.
Participates in an art project titled “Mask” where one face is created everyday (2010 – present). Since 2019, holds exhibtions focusing on ceramic works.
Tomoyuki Sugiyama
President, Digital Hollywood University (Ph.D. in Engineering)
Born in 1954,Tokyo. After completing the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, became an assistant at the same university and worked on architectural acoustic design using computer simulations. Moved to the United States in 1987 and worked as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab, a senior researcher at the International Media Research Foundation, and a full-time lecturer at Nihon University Junior College before establishing Digital Hollywood in 1994. Established the graduate school in 2004 and university in 2005, currently president of Digital Hollywood University. His books include “Cool Japan: Japan that the world wants to buy” (Shodensha), “Digital Stream – Redesigning the Future” new edition (e-book/Digital Hollywood Publishers), and others.
BRANDED SHORTS Jury
Chief Jury: Takuma Takasaki
Creative Director
Dentsu Japan “Growth Officer/Executive Creative Director
Has won many domestic and international advertising awards, including his third Creator of the Year award in 2023.
Main projects include Suntory All Free, Orangina, Acerola, JR East, and Tohoku,P&G Bold Washing Daimyo, Iris Ohyama Kaname Honest, etc.
In charge of planning, scriptwriting, and production for the movie “PERFECT DAYS” (directed by Wim Wenders), It has been released in 87 countries around the world and was nominated for Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for International Feature.
His books include “Auto Reverse,” about young boys who are ardent fans of actress Kyoko Koizumi and the novel “Haruka Kakera.”
Other books include “Techniques of Expression,” a collection of advertising skills, and the picture book “Makkuro.”
At J-WAVE radio, he is the DJ for “BITS & BOBS TOKYO” every Friday night.
Masaya Asai
Droga5 Tokyo, Part of Accenture Song
Chief Creative Officer
Problem-solving through creativity and innovation has always been the focus of Masaya’s career and passion. His bi-cultural perspective–drawn from his roots in Japan and the US–has been praised and recognized internationally. He has won over 100 international awards, including Cannes Lions Grand Prix and Grand Clio. In 2018, he was featured on a “39 Designers who will change the world“ list by Forbes Magazine Japan, in 2019 he appeared on the “40 under 40: Young Leaders in APAC“ list and in 2020 he was named “Creative Person of the Year” by Campaign Asia.
Mayuko Amanashi
Studio neco Co., Ltd. Representative Director/Movie Producer
Born in Tokyo in 1994. After supervising a film festival, she became involved in producing dramas and movies at LDS Co., Ltd.’s video division. After leaving the company, started Studio neco Co., Ltd., and produced the film “Beautiful Dreamer” directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, which was released in November 2020. Since then, has worked on many movies and TV dramas. Served as a PFF selection member in 2021. In recent years, has produced many original films including Netflix’s “Talk Survivor,” TX drama “Mass-Produced Rico,” “Traveling Sandwich,” “Japanese Style,” and “dependence” Last year was selected for the Japanese people who change the world, “30 UNDER 30 JAPAN 2023” by Forbes magazine.
Kentaro Kimura
Hakuhodo, International Chief Creative Officer and Corporate Officer
Hakuhodo Kettle, Founder
At Hakuhodo, he developed a style that integrates everything from strategy to execution, and established Hakuhodo Kettle in 2006. Producing innovative campaigns and branded content as Co-CEO and ECD. Since 2017, he has been traveling around the world as Chief Creative Officer leading the global business of Hakuhodo Headquarters. He has won more than 150 domestic and international advertising awards, including 10 grand prizes, and has over 30 years of experience judging international advertising awards including Cannes. Most recently, he served as chairman of the jury for film at the London International Advertising Awards and chairman for branded content at the Asia-Pacific Advertising Festival. Co-authored “Breakthrough Inspiration is Born from Logic.”
In 2024, He serves as Jury President of Digital Craft Lion at Cannes Lions.
Yuko Hakota
Film director
Born in Ibaraki Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. After leaving AOI Pro., joined CluB_A. Worked on numerous commercials as a commercial director, including Kubota’s “Kubota Supports” series, McDonald’s Japan’s “Tsukimi Burger, I Know,” Suntory Kinmugi series, and Concorde series. Her feature film debut came in 2019 with “Blue Hour.” Also directed serial dramas such as Netflix Series “He’s Expecting” and NHK night drama “Yumin Stories: End of Winter.” Awards include ’21 ACC Film Category Craft Award (Director), 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival Asian Newcomer Category Best Director Award Winner.
Sponsors
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Creative Partner
Media Partners
Media Supporters
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Festival Supporters
Equipment Supporter
War and the Power To Live Program Special Support
