SSFF & ASIA Unveils “Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS,” Featuring Nominated Works including WhatsApp, British Airways, Amazon Books, Doritos and Toray
Asia’s premier short film festival expands its branded content platform into
a global business summit in Tokyo & Online, offering global access
to film shortlists, AI innovation panels, and archived sessions.
Visual Voice Inc., the organizer of the Academy Award-qualifying Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), today announced the official launch and nominations for “Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS.”
Evolving from a decade-long showcase of corporate film excellence into an expansive business platform, the inaugural summit will take place on September 28–29, 2026, at Akasaka Intercity Conference, Tokyo, with global online access and archived seminar streaming available through November 30.
Designed to bridge the gap between cinematic art, corporate branding, and cutting-edge technology, the Expo will feature global award nominations—including works for WhatsApp, British Airways, Amazon Books, Doritos and Toray—alongside expert panel sessions on generative AI, regional storytelling, and personal branding.
URL：https://expo.brandedshorts.jp/en/
A selection of highlighted international and Japanese nominees includes:
WhatsApp – “Love In A Few Words” (Dir: Amit Sharma / Agency: Fundamental / Prod: Chrome Pictures / India)
British Airways – “Love Departed” (Dir: Autumn De Wilde / Agency: Uncommon / Prod: Anonymous Content / UK)
Amazon Books – “Bring A Book To Life” (Dir: Steve Rogers / Agency: Droga5 London / UK)
Doritos – “A Spicy But Not Too Spicy Plumber” (Dir: Björn Rühmann / Agency: Rethink NYC / Prod: Smuggler US / USA)
Six Flags – “Come Out and Play” (Dir: John Suits & Harris Wilkinson / Agency: TMA / Prod: Natural Selection / USA)
Meat & Livestock Australia – “The Happiness List” (Agency: Droga5 ANZ, part of Accenture Song / Prod: Good Oil / Australia)
Toray Industries – “A Ray of Light” (Dir: Yu Yamanaka / Japan)
radiko – “Then and Now” (Dir: Dai Isomi / Agency: Tokyu Agency / Prod: Tokyu Agency Promix / Japan)
Kondo Industries – “Yasegaman” (Dir: Koju Inagaki / Prod: BEAU / Japan [HR Best Short Award Nominee])
For the complete shortlist of all global and national nominated works, please visit the official Visual EXPO website: https://expo.brandedshorts.jp/
Distinguished Executive Leadership and Jury
Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS is guided by renowned industry leaders who have shaped global brand communications:
•Executive Advisors: Takuma Takasaki (Creative Director / Founder, WRITING & DESIGN Inc.) and Kentaro Kimura (Executive Officer & International CCO, Hakuhodo / Founder, Hakuhodo Kettle).
•Jury Leadership: Keiichi Higuchi (Creative Director / Strategist, Representative Director of Keiichi Higuchi Office Inc., former Executive Creative Director at Dentsu and Cannes Lions Jury Member) serves as Jury President.
•Jury Panel: Hiroaki Miyata (Professor, Keio University School of Medicine / Data Scientist), Chihiro Amano (Film Director & Screenwriter), Keisuke Yoshikane (Creative Director / CM Planner, Hakuhodo), and timo Mitsuaki Otsuki (Chief Development Director, Black Cat White Cat Music).
Industry Insights from Executive Advisors
Takuma Takasaki, Creative Director / Founder, WRITING & DESIGN Inc.:
“As technology advances at breakneck speed, anyone can create surprising quality with ease. Yet, I find myself deeply drawn to work crafted through sweat, struggle, and human emotion. While corporate films may seek efficiency through technology, true resonance comes from heart and craft. As BRANDED SHORTS evolves into Visual EXPO, we must continuously question what keeps visual expression rich and meaningful.“
Kentaro Kimura, International CCO, Hakuhodo / Founder, Hakuhodo Kettle:
“Video content is perhaps the most powerful communication format ever created by humanity—both in conveying rich information rapidly and in moving hearts to drive action. BRANDED SHORTS was born when video content fell in love with marketing. Now, accelerated by evolving tech and media, that potential is exploding. Visual EXPO crystallizes the latest forms of global visual content. Expect to see exciting new romantic possibilities between film and marketing.”
Cutting-Edge Panel Seminars: AI, Corporate Identity, and Editorial Film
The Expo will host a series of thought-provoking seminars featuring key industry innovators to explore how technology and storytelling redefine brand experience:
*All the seminars will be held in Japanese, but some of them will be streamed online with English subtitles
Event Details & Ticketing
| Event Name | Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS |
| Dates & Venue | September 28 (Mon) & 29 (Tue), 2026 Akasaka Intercity Conference (The Air, The Amphitheater, Green), Tokyo |
| Online Period | September 29 (Tue) – November 30 (Mon), 2026 |
| Ticketing | Available on Peatix (Day Passes, 2-Day All-Access Pass, Online Viewing Pass) https://visualexpo2026.peatix.com/ Early Bird Discount: 10% off from August 27 to September 14. |
| Official Website | https://expo.brandedshorts.jp/ |
About Visual Voice Inc., SSFF & ASI and Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS
Founded by actor Tetsuya Bessho, Visual Voice Inc. operates the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), one of Asia’s largest international short film festivals and an Academy Award-qualifying event. Launched in 2016, BRANDED SHORTS has illuminated the strategic and artistic intersection of cinema and brand strategy. In 2026, Visual EXPO expands this mission into a multi-faceted summit uniting advertising, HR, regional tourism, food culture, and AI innovation.