Cinematic Tokyo Competition

Cinematic Tokyo Competition was established in 2017. This competition category takes submissions from all over the world for short films showcasing the various charms of Tokyo. Productions do not have to be filmed in Tokyo, but must include themes that make one think of Tokyo, be centered on memories of Tokyo or imagine the essence of Tokyo.

7 nominated films selected from the 236 submissions from 42 countries and regions around the world and the Cinema Sports Project Special Production Short ""This is Tokyo"" were screened at SSFF & ASIA 2020.

Cinematic Tokyo Competition, Best Shorts Award in 2020

Guppy
Guppy

Charles Richardson / 0:13:12 / Australia / Drama / 2017

Set against the backdrop of the foreign world of Tokyo, two young lovers are separated when one accidentally boards the last train without the other. With a dead phone battery, and unaired tension, Lucas and Lindsay's relationship is tested as they learn that communication is the only thing that can bring them back together.

Announcement of the award

Comment
Comment on award winning.

I'm honored to have been selected as this year's receiptient for the award. I love Tokyo dearly, and feel grateful we were able to showcase parts of the city in our film. Thank you to the Short Shorts Film Festival, for allowing Guppy to be seen by more people. I look forward to returning to Tokyo soon to tell more stories.

Award Ceremony

Anything you would like to share about your film?

I want to take a moment to thank the amazing cast and crew- who worked to bring Guppy to life. Our cinematographer, Gabriel Hutchings captured Tokyo in a beautiful way, and the film was wonderfully edited by Katia Mancuso. Tokyo is an amazing city to shoot a film in, and I want to acknowledge the people of Tokyo for making the process such a great experience.

Governor of Tokyo Award trophy

Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?

I've been deeply inspired by filmmakers such as Spike Jonze, Noah Baumbach & Richard Linklater just to name a few. I love striving for naturalism- and really admire the poetic quality of films like "Her", "Marriage Story" & "Before Sunrise".

Director : Charles Richardson

Charles’ filmmaking career began at 13 in Melbourne, Australia. Graduating in 2017 with a BFA (Film and Television) from the Victorian College of the Arts, his filmmaking has taken him all around the world. Charlie currently works for entrepreneurial company Foundr as Head of Video Production and is in pre-production for his next short film.

Nominated films in Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2020

  • Bébé Tambour The One and Only

    Didier Chanot / 0:04:23 / France / Music Video / 2019

    The video for The One and Only is a declaration of love for the culture of skateboarding. A forties goes on vacation in Tokyo and does not take his skateboard with him. The latter will take revenge for having been "abandoned".

  • In the Still Night

    Jean-Baptiste Braud / 0:16:04 / Japan / France / Drama / 2019

    Heartbroken, Matthew, an American art curator, wanders daydreaming through a maze of artworks in his hotel in Tokyo. That is, until he has a surreal encounter.

  • Saya Okuma: A Dance Documentary

    Meg Igarashi / 0:02:50 / Japan / Documentary / 2019

    A documentary film about a young Japanese dancer following her dreams in Tokyo and talking about how she became a professional dancer.

  • Goodbye Taka

    Jason Guerrero / 0:11:26 / USA / Drama / 2019

    After an unexpected crisis, a woman phones her friends for solace while wandering the streets of tokyo, only to find that all the solace she needs is within herself.

  • Midare

    Simon Pera / 0:05:29 / Argentina / Documentary / 2019

    Trains, escalators, elevators. Tokyo is a city of movement, and its modernity moves to the sound of Koto music.

  • Guppy

    Charles Richardson / 0:13:12 / Australia / Drama / 2017

    Set against the backdrop of the foreign world of Tokyo, two young lovers are separated when one accidentally boards the last train without the other. With a dead phone battery, and unaired tension, Lucas and Lindsay's relationship is tested as they learn that communication is the only thing that can bring them back together.

  • Beautiful city Tokyo

    Masayoshi Kawaura / 0:07:36 / Japan / Video Art / 2020

    My name is Hari from Indonesia. I'm a film creator. I found something in Tokyo. It was filming.

  • Cinema Sports Project Special Production ShortThis is Tokyo

    Ben Suzuki / 0:16:15 / Japan / Drama / 2020

    Kento is selected by a team to promote a partnership with a Singapore company. One day, he is left with a job to attend President Kwang who comes to Japan. He is confused by her cold attitude. As two of them see the sights in Tokyo, they find a small change in their hearts to each other.