SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL & ASIA 2025 Approximately 250 films selected from 4,592 submissionsAnnouncing the complete lineup, including official competition films leading up to the Academy Awards! 【Official Web, Online Grand Theater, Ticket Sales Open Today, April 24 】
Special screenings include film produced by CateBlanchett &starringPaul Mescal (“GladiatorⅡ”) The focus is on the newly established Horror & Suspense category, K-SHORTand Saudi Arabian films
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) 2025, one of the largest international short film festivals in Asia and accredited by the Academy Awards®, announced today the nominees and special screenings for each category on the official festival website. https://www.shortshorts.org/2025/en/index.html
Pre-streaming programs at the Online Grand Theater and various ticket sales also start today!
The opening ceremony will be held at the newly opened TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY on Wednesday, May 28, and will feature the Korean star Oh Man-Seok(“Crash Landing on You”)and jury member Director ShunjiIwai.
Under the theme of “creative active generative,”in addition to the Live Action, Non-Fiction, and Animation competitions, which have the potential to win next year‘s Academy Awards, the festival will also present a diverse curated selection of over 250 of the world’s latest short films, including “Cinematic Tokyo,” “Womenin Cinema,” and ” SHIBUYADIVERSITY, and more.
◆Special screenings include “Marion” produced by Cate Blanchett, “Drifting” starring Paul Mescal, “Miracle Mile” directed by “Squid Game” and many more Japan premiere!
“Marion,” the story of a female bull jumper with executive producer Cate Blanchett, ‘Drifting,’ starring Paul Mescal, who has garnered attention for his roles in ‘After Sun’ and ‘GladiatorⅡ;’ “Miracle Mile” directed by Hwang Dong-hyukof ‘The Squid Game’ fame, as well as the Official Competition and Program screenings of the vertical short ‘High Hair Lady’ starring Yuki Saito, ‘NIGEMIZU’ starring Aoi Yamada and Yuki Matsuda, ‘NIGEMIZU’, and ‘UNLEASHED’, the directorial debut of actor Haruka Imou.
◆Newly established programs! “Horror & Suspense”, ‘K-SHORT’, ‘Saudi Visons’ for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, ‘War and the Power of Love Program’ for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and many more!
New this year, the “Horror & Suspense” category features 11 short films by Japanese directors and the “Best Thrill Award supported by CRG” will be selected. In the “K-SHORT” special screening event, which features Korean short films popular not only among fans of the Korean stars but also among film fans, Yu Jun Sung will appear with his own short film. Featuring Saudi Arabian works on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationsand “The War and the Power of Love Program supported by Red Cross,” which will provide an opportunity to think about the 80th memorial of the end of World War II, will also introduce unique lineups for this year.
The Rainbow Program, a special program featuring films created using AI that embodiesthe current trend of entries; the annual Very Short Program, which can be enjoyed in under 5 minutes; and the U-25 Project, which selects up-and-coming Japanese directors under 25 years old, will be distributed in advance (until May 27 for each program). The special programs will be available from May 28 (Wed), and the Official Competitions will be available from June 12 (Thu).
◆Starts today! 6 programs including AI and Rainbow, as well as online-only work by Yu Jun Sung, will be available at the Online Grand Theater in advance!
The Rainbow Program, a special program featuring films created using AI that embodiesthe current trend of entries; the annual Very Short Program, which can be enjoyed in under 5 minutes; and the U-25 Project, which selects up-and-coming Japanese directors under 25 years old, will be distributed in advance (until May 27 for each program). The special programs will be available from May 28 (Wed), and the Official Competitions will be available from June 12 (Thu).
【SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL ＆ ASIA 2025 OUTLINE】
■Festival President：Tetsuya Bessho
■Schedule：
April 24 – June 30 Online Grand Theater
*Streaming programs vary depending on the period.
May 28, Opening Ceremony @ TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY
May 29 – June 1 TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY
June 3, 4 Akasaka Interciity Conference
June 6 – 10 WITH HARAJUKU
June 6 – ８ LIFORK HARAJUKU
June 11 Award Ceremony LINE CUBE SHIBUYA
■Ticket：
＜Online Grand Theater Passport ＞
¥2,500 (JPY) for Japan residents only /
$15 (USD) for international users,500JPY（Japan)
https://app.lifelogbox.com/shortshortsonlinegrandtheater
＜Tokyo Venues＞
・1 Program（advance sale)
General 1,500JPY
Students, Seniors, Disability Discount 1,200JPY
Children under elementary school age Free
・1 Program (same-day ticket）
General 1,800JPY
Students, Seniors, Disability Discount 1,500JPY
Children under elementary school age Free
・Passport ： Omotesando Hills Space O, WITH HARAJUKU
General 7,000JPY
Students, Seniors, Disability Discount 5,500JPY
URL https://ssff2025passport.peatix.com
■General Inquiry：info@shortshorts.org
■Official Site： https://www.shortshorts.org/2025
■Host： Committee for Short Shorts / Committee for Short Shorts Asia
【Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia】
In 1999, actor Tetsuya Bessho, member of the Screen Actors Guild of America (SAG), has worked to introduce the then new genre, “short films,” which he first encountered in the United States, to film fans in Japan as the American Short Shorts Film Festival. In 2001, the festival was renamed the Short Shorts Film Festival. In 2004, SSFF was recognized as an Academy Award® accredited film festival. In the same year, with the aim of promoting new visual culture from Asia and nurturing up-and-coming young filmmakers, the Short Shorts Film Festival Asia (SSFF ASIA, co-sponsored by Tokyo Metropolitan Government) was established and the festival is now known collectively as SSFF & ASIA. To commemorate the festival’s 20th anniversary in 2018, the Grand Prix film was named the “George Lucas Award” in honor of director George Lucas. In January 2019, the Short Shorts Film Festival in Hollywood was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the festival. Beginning with the 2019 festival, in addition to the Official Competitions (International, Asia International, and Japan), the Non-Fiction Competition and this year, the Animation Competition Best Short Award winners have also become eligible for nomination at the Academy Awards the following year. SSFF & ASIA will continue to support young creators through the festival.
https://shortshorts.org/index-en.php