SHORT SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL & ASIA 2019 Screening in Autumn

Introduction

Entering its 21st year, the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), a qualifying film festival for the annual Academy Awards® and one of Asia's largest international short film festivals will hold a "Screening in Autumn" at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum from Thursday, October 17th to Sunday, October 20th.
Co-organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Goverment, this event is held every year and aims to promote the attractiveness of short films and foster the next generation of filmmakers. It is also held in partnership with the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival.
This year's event will feature short film screenings, mainly of those which won awards at the Short Shorts Film Festival & ASIA 2019 in June; a talk seminar with director Ryusuke Hamaguchi ("Happy Hour", "Netemo Sametemo"); and a talk seminar on the topic of branded movies. As the pleasant fall breeze blows this season, come and stop by the event venue located in Ebisu.

SSFF & ASIA 2019 Core Theme

"Cinematic Attitude"
Having crossed the landmark of 20 successful years of this festival, the theme of our 21st edition marks a new start: Cinematic Attitude. This theme represents the diversity inherent to a film festival and universal power of cinema and moving images.

What is Short Film?

Short film is a cinematic piece of work that ranges from lengths as short as 1 minute to as long as approximately 30 minutes. For the Official Competition of SSFF & ASIA, submitted works are restricted to less than 25 minutes. Despite its short length, there is a wide variety in these works such as drama, animation, and documentary and many of the stories are rich in wit and cinematic expression that can only be possible given the short length of the piece.

There are quite a few directors who started out their careers making short films such as George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg, and there are many short films that have famous actors appear in them as well. Furthermore, short films provide a format that cultivates the talent of up and coming filmmakers, and film festivals are a gateway for their success. How would you like to witness the possibilities of future filmmakers at this film festival?

Festival History

This Japan-born, Academy Awards® accredited festival is one of the largest film festivals in Asia. It was founded by actor Tetsuya Bessho, a native of Japan and a SAG member, with the aim of introducing Japanese audiences to short films – a format that many people in Japan were unfamiliar with.
The first festival was held in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo in 1999, and screened 6 short films by George Lucas (of Star Wars fame), made during his student days. We have since received a letter of support from the director each year.

In 2001, the festival became officially known as Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF), and in 2004, was accredited as a qualifying festival for the annual Academy Awards®. This means that the winner of the festival Grand Prix is eligible to be nominated in one of the short film categories of the Academy Awards® the following year, offering a bridge between Japan and the Oscars.

Furthermore, Short Shorts Film Festival Asia (SSFF ASIA) was established with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2004, to introduce new Asian video culture and to nurture young filmmaking talents from the region. To this day, the two festivals are held together as Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia.