We asked award-winning directors about what happens when you participate in a film festival!
Film festivals are not only about having your films screened – they are also about having the chance to participate, an opportunity to meet other creators and exchange ideas and opinions.
The people you meet and ideas you encounter could inspire your next film. It could even be the place where you meet a life-long colleague.Hear from some of the directors who participated in this year’s Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia about their experiences.
Jossie Malis
CG Animation Competition Best Short Award Winner
I have deep feelings about Japan since I was a kid. I have grown up in Perú, a country with a powerful Japanese influence, from the food and the culture in general, so this trip was something really important for me. This week, I’ve known so many wonderful people in Tokyo related with filmmaking and animation, so I’ll definitely will give a try in the future to come back and develop a project in Japan, that’s something I have been dreaming for a long time. In the meantime, there are many doors opened for different projects thanks to SSFF & ASIA, but I must say that the festival experience is a must for anyone who want to be introduced to the Japanese culture and filmmaking as well. I don’t have enough words to express the gratitude to the festival and all the people I’ve met in Tokyo. Arigatou gozaimaisu!
Bendito Machine V – Pull the Trigger
Marleen van der Werf
Save the Earth! Competition Best Short Award Winner
Yes. I would love to make a documenatry for children in Japan. As a Dutch filmmaker I am very curious how Japanese children relate to the natural world that surrounds them. SSFF gave me the opportunity to meet the right people from the industry to help me to make this happen.
Emily Driscoll
Save the Earth! Competition J-WAVE Award Winner
The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia provides a forum for directors, actors, animators, producers, radio personalities, distributors, and audiences to meet, exchange ideas and support and learn from each other. It is an excellent way to meet creative colleagues and spark collaborations. On opening night I and met many filmmakers, producers, actors and distributors and continued to see them throughout the festival – even staying in the same hotel as some of them. Despite being at the festival for a short trip, the meetings, experiences and film events were rich and productive. I’ve stayed connected with many new contacts since and am hopeful for many exciting new opportunities and collaborations.
BRILLIANT DARKNESS: HOTARU IN THE NIGHT
Iori Fujiwara
Music Shorts Competition UULA Award Winner
I was only able to attend the Award Ceremony but I got to know many filmmakers there. I would like to work with them somehow in future.
Santa Yamagishi
Music Shorts Competition Cinematic Award Winner
I’m grateful that I could get to know the members of Committee for Short Shorts. I have never experienced this kind of festival before, so appreciated the chance to meet people I would like to show my new works to once they are completed. I’ll do my best to be invited here again.
ARATA
Music Shorts Cinematic Special mention Award Winner
I don’t usually meet many filmmakers, so it was a very special experience meeting several other directors at the festival.
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), the first Academy Awards® accredited film festival in Japan and one of Asia’s largest international short film festivals, began accepting submissions for its 2016 edition on August 1, 2015 (Sat).
Please access the Call for Entries page via the official festival website for further details on the submission process.
