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.
5 nominated films selected from the 197 submissions from 44 countries and regions around the world.
Cinematic Tokyo Competition Best Short Award 2025 / Governor of Tokyo Award
GAIJIN
Michele Motzo / 0:18:30 / Japan / Experimental / 2025
"GAIJIN" by Michele Motzo is a short film featuring seven brief stories in Tokyo. A fragmented, surreal, philosophical narration guides the short film, jumping from one story to another. All the while, a giant head fluctuates in the night sky, wondering about human beings.
Announcement of the award
Comment
SSFF & ASIA 2025 Award Ceremony
Anything you would like to share about your film?
GAIJIN is hard to define: its fast-paced anthological structure, and shifting moods, create a sense of emotional rather than narrative completeness. It explores themes like work, love, money, solitude, and alienation through a stream-of-consciousness style that connects the lonely characters on screen. The film shows that with limited resources, it’s still possible to create something meaningful, entertaining, and moving by blending personal introspection with a love for the craft.
Governor of Tokyo Award trophy
Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
I intentionally avoid a reference-based method, but there are few movies I am in love with. For example:
Terry Gilliam - Brazil
David Lynch - Mulholland Drive
Director: Michele Motzo
Michele Motzo is an Italian filmmaker and video editor born in 1991. With a background in Philosophy, he moved to Milan, where he built a career in visual communication. His personal projects explore a surreal and poetic aesthetic, blending visual storytelling with emotional depth.
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2025
Nominated films in Cinematic Tokyo Competition
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A Pine Cone And a Beef Bowl
Miko Nakano / 0:14:15 / Japan / Non-Fiction / 2024
Sachiko Nakamura, 92, is a shoeshine lady who works near Shinbashi station in Tokyo. Having her polish your shoes is rumored to bring good luck to your work and business, and she is nicknamed "the God of Business." It depicts the daily life of "God" still active in modern-day Shinbashi.
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VR Boyfriend
Rodolfo Ogura / 0:09:19 / Japan / Sci-Fi / 2024
The girl who has a relationship in a virtual reality game and can't live in the real world.
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BariKari knitted scarf in midsummer
Narihiko Kohno / 0:02:17 / Japan / Animation / 2024
Bari and Kari are a Bacouple(super lovey-dovey couple). One midsummer day, Bari wears a hand-knitted scarf that Kari gave him, and gets caught up in a non-stop comedy about everyday life.
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Karita
Virginia de Witt & Koji Ueda / 0:17:18 / Japan / Comedy / 2023
Trying to decide between being good or being bad, an American in Tokyo finds herself torn between a friend and a crush.
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GAIJIN
Michele Motzo / 0:18:30 / Japan / Experimental / 2025
"GAIJIN" by Michele Motzo is a short film featuring seven brief stories in Tokyo. A fragmented, surreal, philosophical narration guides the short film, jumping from one story to another. All the while, a giant head fluctuates in the night sky, wondering about human beings.
With immense gratitude and sincere emotion, I would like to thank you for this recognition, which honors not only my work but also every human, poetic, and invisible fragment that inspired GAIJIN. Receiving this award in this city — the beating heart of the film — is a surprising and profoundly moving honor. On behalf of myself and the entire team, thank you for embracing our wandering gaze with such generosity.