SSFF & ASIA 2026 Shortlist for the Global Spotlight Award vol.3 has been announced
The third selection of nominees for the 6th annual SSFF & ASIA Global Spotlight Award has been announced.
This award honors renowned directors, actors, artists, cultural figures, and athletes who, through the medium of short film, have illuminated issues of global significance and social impact. The diverse range of themes recognized to date includes LGBTQ+ equality, Black Lives Matter, environmental issues, and human rights, as well as the creative use of new technologies and platforms such as VFX, NFTs, and AI.
In anticipation of the 2026 festival, the first four shortlisted titles in contention for the award have been revealed today.
The third shortlist features four compelling works:
“The Baddest Speechwriter of All”: A short documentary co-directed by NBA star Stephen Curry and Oscar-winning director Ben Proudfoot. The film focuses on 93-year-old Clarence B. Jones, the legendary right-hand man and speechwriter to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Sandiwara”: Directed by Sean Baker (Palme d’Or and Academy Award winner for Anora) and starring Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh. Set in Malaysia, the film vividly portrays the local people and everyday scenery.
“Long Pork”: Starring Lena Headey (Game of Thrones). This film offers a bold new perspective on rage and resistance in an America where abortion rights have been lost.
“Yuki’s Revenge”: A short animation by Quentin Tarantino, bringing to life the “lost episode” of his iconic film Kill Bill.
The shortlist will be announced monthly through April, with the final awards to be revealed in June.
〈SSFF & ASIA 2026 Global Spotlight Award Shortlist Vol.３〉
『The Baddest Speechwriter of All』Director：Stephen Curry, Ben Proudfoot/ 29:00 / 2026 / Documentary / U.S.A.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s attorney and speechwriter shares personal sacrifices and revelations from his Civil Rights Movement experience, providing a behind-the-scenes perspective of this historic era.。
『SANDIWARA』Director：Sean Baker/ 10:00 / 2026 / Drama / Malaysia
Set in a Malaysian night market, follows five characters who each tell their own unique story and represent a facet of Malaysian culture rarely explored.
『Long Pork』Director：Iris Dukatt / 13:00 / 2025 / Drama / U.S.A
In a Post Roe America where theocracy reigns, a renowned butcher meets the political predator responsible for the killing of her daughter and exacts bloody revenge, setting the stage for a revolution. LONG PORK boldly reimagines rage and resistance in Post Roe America, offering new avenues of catharsis for those most harmed by anti-choice legislation.
『 Yuki’s Revenge』Director：Quentin Tarantino/ 10:00 / 2025 / Animation / U.S.A
Visionary director Quentin Tarantino had a dream of a Kill Bill chapter that never made it to the silver screen, a chapter known as “Yuki’s Revenge.”