{"id":18508,"date":"2026-10-21T17:04:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T08:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shortshorts.org\/content\/?post_type=news_en&p=18508"},"modified":"2026-10-21T17:04:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T08:04:33","slug":"academy-awards-qualifying-ssff-asia-2026-autumn-unveils-cutting-edge-ai-showcase-and-next-gen-japanese-talent","status":"publish","type":"news_en","link":"https:\/\/shortshorts.org\/content\/news_en\/creators\/academy-awards-qualifying-ssff-asia-2026-autumn-unveils-cutting-edge-ai-showcase-and-next-gen-japanese-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"J-Horror Master Ryuta Miyake Goes AI:Academy Awards\u00ae-Qualifying SSFF & ASIA 2026 Autumn Unveils Cutting-Edge AI Showcase and Next-Gen Japanese Talent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The festival reveals its Cannes-linked session featuring 6 emerging filmmakers, alongside deep-dives into TOPVIEW, CapCut,and TYO\u2019s AI films\u2014all set for worldwide streaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nov. 5th to 8th at<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum & kino cin\u00e9ma Shinjuku<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nov.9th  to  22nd at Online Grand Theater<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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 <\/strong>TOKYO \u2014 October 20, 2026 \u2014 <\/strong>Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), one of Asia\u2019s largest international short film festivals accredited by the Academy Awards\u00ae, today announced the second wave of highlights for its Autumn Film Festival, running from November 5 to 22, 2026.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Unveiling the core special programs for this autumn, this latest release spotlights the full lineup for its cutting-edge \u201cGenerative AI x Short Film\u201d showcases. The program is headlined by a World Premiere from acclaimed J-Horror writer\/director Ryuta Miyake (The Complex, Ju-On series) created with AI platform TOPVIEW, alongside global AI selections from CapCut and TOKYO STORIES season 2, an innovative project presented by leading Japanese production company TYO featuring 26 top creators.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 In addition, the festival has officially announced the 6 emerging Japanese filmmakers selected to present their works in an industry session linked with Cannes Film Festival\u2019s Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry, aimed at propelling Japanese talent onto the international film circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Notably, these pioneering AI-driven works and special selections will be available for worldwide streaming via the festival\u2019s Online Grand Theater, offering international audiences front-row access to the future of visual storytelling. \u3000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.shortshorts.org\/2026autumn\/en<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J-Horror Master Meets Generative AI \u2014 World Premiere by Ryuta Miyake<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major highlight of the AI program is the World Premiere of \u201cPSY DIVER -Episode 1-\u201d, directed by legendary J-Horror writer and script doctor Ryuta Miyake (The Complex, Ju-On series). Produced using TOPVIEW\u2019s AI creative platform, the sci-fi thriller delves into the deep subconscious of human minds. Joining the TOPVIEW AI lineup are two additional World Premieres from Asia: CENTER SPOT (dir. Xu Xiang \/ Singapore), an emotional short set in Seoul’s K-POP scene, and Proof of Live (dir. NIKO Song Zhuohan \/ China), a futuristic sci-fi piece exploring robot emotion and identity.\u00a0\u00a0 The screening on November 8 at kino cin\u00e9ma Shinjuku will be accompanied by an exclusive panel featuring Director Miyake, Yin Wu (President of TOPVIEW JAPAN), and producer Shinichi Teraji (CEO of Ashitahe Inc.), discussing the intersection of generative AI, entertainment business, and cinematic storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u300ePSY DIVER -Episode1-\u300f<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director\uff1aRyuta Miyake \/ Japan \/ 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a peaceful autumn riverbank, a mysterious stranger approaches a young man with two unsettling questions: \u201cWhere are we? And when are we? Meanwhile, deep in the forest near Mount Fuji, a top-secret experiment has gone terribly wrong.\u3000Desperate for help, a researcher named Midori calls upon her ex-husband, Shigeru, who left the facility years ago. What awaits him is a past he had hoped never to confront again\u2014and an unprecedented crisis looming on the horizon. Now, Shigeru must undertake a dangerous mission into the depths of the human mind. But what lies beyond is a world that defies all imagination…<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cCenter Spot\u300aWhen I stepped into the center spot\u300b\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xu Xiang \/  Singapore \/  2026<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cProof of Live\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NIKO \/  Singapore  \/ 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frontier of AI Storytelling \u2014 TYO\u2019s “TOKYO STORIES” & CapCut Global Showcase<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival expands its exploration of visual boundaries with two major AI showcases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TOKYO STORIES season 2 (Presented by TYO): Following its debut in June, this project brings together 26 leading creators\u2014including MV director Jun Tamukai (known for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu\u2019s MV), digital artist SAEKO EHARA, and GEEK PICTURES AI lead JONAH KISHIYA\u2014presenting 26 short films reimagining “TOKYO” through a blend of live-action and AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CapCut AI Film Program: Selected from over 100 global submissions, CapCut presents 9 outstanding short films demonstrating how accessible AI tools are empowering a new generation of international storytellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\uff1cPickups from TOKYO STORIES season 2\uff1e<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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From top left\u3001Jun Tamukai, “TOKYO TOKAYO\u201c \/ JONAH KISHIYA, “TOKYO BASTARDS\u201c\u00a0 \/SAEKO EHARA, “TOKYO FRAGMENTS\u201c \/ Teppei Kuroyanagi, “IKIMU TOKYO\u201c \/ Chihei Tanaka, “Tokyo Light Drawing\u201c \/BANTAIZ, “TOKYO HEAVEN”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\uff1cCapCut AI Film Program\uff1e<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Top left, Eru Styles<\/strong>, “STILL GENERATING \/ \u201c <\/em>Nere\u00a0 <\/strong>“REUNION\u201c \/ <\/em>toki<\/strong>, “THE UNFINISHED BRIDGE\u201c \/<\/em>Tech Talk Navigator<\/strong>, “IMMUNE PRIME\u201c\/ <\/em>Hideya Shigematsu<\/strong>, “THE GREAT JOURNEY -Our Way Home-\u201c\/\u00a0<\/em>Nagi Story Music<\/strong>, “Halloween Night\u201c<\/em>\/ Kanto Fujita<\/strong>, “Yuzu\u2019s Promise\u201c\/ <\/em>Naoyuki Okada<\/strong>, “Welcome Home \u2014 REIZOUKO\u201c\/\u00a0 <\/em>minima<\/strong>, “kusarabi”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowering Next-Gen Japanese Talent for International Film Circuits<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connecting Japanese creators with the global market, SSFF & ASIA will host a special industry talk session featuring video participation from Florian Fernandez, head of Cannes Film Festival\u2019s Short Film Corner | Rendez-vous Industry<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session highlights 6 emerging Japanese directors<\/strong>\u2014Peter Clay, Masashi Sogawa, Takeshi Tanaka, Yuichiro Nakata, Hiromi Nakane, and Yuria Matsushita\u2014who will pitch their trailers and discuss strategies for international career growth. A dedicated screening session showcasing their short films will precede the seminar on November 5 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.<\/p>\n\n\n

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From top left, Peter Clay, Masashi Sogawa, Takeshi Tanaka, Yuichiro Nakata, Hiromi Nakane, Yuria Matsushita<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worldwide Online Streaming & Additional Festival Updates<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Online Grand Theater (Nov 9\u201322): International audiences can access the AI showcases and curated programs online. The online venue will also exclusively feature SNS Ambassador Picks, a selection of 5 standout short films recommended by Japanese movie influencers. Online Festival Passes are available globally ($5 Early Bird \/ $8 Regular). https:\/\/www.shortshorts.org\/2026autumn\/en\/online\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Festival Details & Online Tickets<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tokyo Screenings: November 5 (Thu) \u2013 November 8 (Sun), 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venues<\/strong>: Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, kino cin\u00e9ma Shinjuku<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets<\/strong>\uff1a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Admission: Advance: \u00a51,500 \/ Same-Day: \u00a51,800<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University Students: Advance: \u00a51,200 \/ Same-Day: \u00a51,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elementary, Junior High & High School Students: Advance: \u00a51,000 \/ Same-Day: \u00a51,300<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preschool Children (Under 6): Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online Grand Theater (Worldwide Streaming at LIFE LOG BOX ): November 9 (Mon) \u2013 November <\/strong>22 (Sun), 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online Streaming Passport (Global Ticket Rates): <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Bird Access (Sept 29 \u2013 Nov 8 JST): US $5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular Rate (Nov 9 \u2013 Nov 22 JST): US $8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official Website & Streaming Platform:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Festival Website: Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026 Screening in Autumn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online Grand Theater: https:\/\/app.lifelogbox.com\/shortshortsonlinegrandtheate<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u3010Short Shorts Film Festival \uff06 Asia\u3011\u3000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1999, Tetsuya Bessho, an actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), founded the American Short Shorts Film Festival. His mission was to introduce “short films”\u2014a genre he first encountered in the United States\u2014to audiences in Japan as a new form of visual entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival was renamed Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF) in 2001 and received official accreditation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences\u00ae in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same year, Short Shorts Film Festival Asia (SSFF ASIA) was established in co-organization with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Its goal was to promote new visual culture from Asia and nurture emerging young filmmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, these two festivals are collectively held under the name “SSFF & ASIA”. To commemorate the festival\u2019s 20th anniversary in 2018, the Grand Prix was renamed the “George Lucas Award” in honor of director George Lucas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January 2019, the festival marked this milestone with the “Short Shorts Film Festival in Hollywood”. Furthermore, the festival’s influence has expanded significantly: winners of the four categories in the Live Action Competition (International, Asia International, Japan) and the Non-Fiction Competition since 2019, as well as the Animation Competition since 2022, earn eligibility for nomination at the following year’s Academy Awards\u00ae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SSFF & ASIA remains dedicated to supporting young creators through the power of short film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u3010Official Website\u3011 https:\/\/www.shortshorts.org\/index-en.php<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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