Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS Debuts in Tokyo: Celebrating Excellence in Branded Storytelling with Announcement of 2026 Category Winners
Showcasing Global & National Award Winners, New AI Video Partnerships, and Online Streaming Worldwide Through November 30
Visual Voice Inc. has officially held “Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS” at Akasaka Intercity Conference in Tokyo on September 28 and 29, 2026. Evolved from “BRANDED SHORTS”—the branded film unit linked with the Academy Awards®-accredited Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA)—the inaugural EXPO serves as a physical platform under the theme “Creating the Future of Business Through the Power of Cinema.”
Out of 654 submissions from around the world, the festival announced the prestigious Branded Shorts of the Year 2026 along with category winners celebrating human-centric storytelling and brand identity. To reach a global audience, all nominated and award-winning films, along with archived industry panels, are currently streaming worldwide for free on the official Visual EXPO online platform through November 30, 2026 (https://app.lifelogbox.com/visualexpoonline).
Honoring Human Storytelling: Branded Shorts of the Year 2026
The award ceremony highlighted films that addressed profound social issues and human relationships through delicate storytelling:
🔶National Category Winner:
“Even Though No One is to Blame” |
Director: Ayumu Omori /
Brand: Marriage For All Japan /
Production: Spoon Inc.
Overview & Jury Comment: A moving narrative depicting
the internal conflicts of a family navigating same-sex marriage
in Japan. The jury praised the work for avoiding villainy and
instead illuminating the mutual care and underlying emotions
between family members, bringing a broad social topic down to an intimate, relatable level.
🔶International Category Winner:
“Feel” | Director: Judith Veenendaal / Brand: checkyourbreasts.today / Production: Bonkers United, division7, SMUGGLER
Overview & Jury Comment: A beautifully crafted piece focusing on touch and bodily self-care to raise breast cancer awareness. The film was commended for its poetic imagery and sensory storytelling that seamlessly guides viewers toward early detection without feeling prescriptive.
Category Awards: HR, Tourism, Personal Branding, and Special Mention
In addition to the main awards, Visual EXPO presented honors across various sectors demonstrating the expanding footprint of branded content:
🔶HR Best Short Award:
“The Last ‘Thank You’ #32–34 ‘Tears From the Toughest'” (Brand: Tear Corporation / Director: Yui Miyatake)
Recognized for portraying the genuine dignity of working in funeral services, based on true stories that highlight corporate values and empathy.
🔶15th Tourism Video Award (Commissioner’s Award, Japan Tourism Agency):
“Fukufuku Map” (Brand: Fukushima Prefecture / Director: Sunao Katabuchi)
Directed by renowned anime director Sunao Katabuchi (“In This Corner of the World”), this animated brand movie captures the heart of travel through delicate world-building.
🔶Personal Branding Award:
Awarded to Kazu Languages (multilingual content creator bridging global cultures across 15+ languages) and KELO (dancer/artist creating unique visual performances).
🔶Public Impact Award
SEKAI NO OWARI’s 15th Anniversary Dome Tour “THE CINEMA” (Directed by Dai Ikeda)
Celebrated for seamlessly blending live music performances with custom-shot short films (“YOKOHAMA blues” starring Fukase and Sairi Ito) across giant screens to redefine immersive entertainment.
Innovation & Business Alliances: Japan Direct × ByteDance AI Partnership
A key highlight of the event was a special presentation announcing a global strategic partnership between Nihon Chokuhan (Japan Direct) and ByteDance. Leveraging ByteDance’s generative AI video technologies (including “Seedance”) and TikTok platforms, the initiative aims to build an AI-driven video ecosystem to nurture new creators and pioneer innovative advertising frameworks.
Furthermore, all award winners were presented with Web3-based Digital Certificates (Digital Trophies) hosted on “LIFE LOG BOX,” leveraging blockchain technology to verify creators’ credentials and support future business opportunities.