About SHORTSHORTS
SHORTSHORTS is a comprehensive short film brand. It’s film festival, “Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia” (SSFF & ASIA) held since 1999, is accredited by the Academy Awards® and is one of the largest international short film festival in Asia. SHORTSHORTS leads the film culture through various means such as its screening events, film distribution, production and collaboration work with companies and administrative offices.
The arrival of the new 5G era allows communication with greater data capacity. This means that people are able to enjoy high-quality video content and movies on their mobile devises such as smartphones. On the other hand, realistic film experiences, beyond the idea of a cinema, is increasingly emphasised. While supporting young creators through various activities and events, SHORTSHORTS broadens the field of short films.
About SSFF & ASIA
In 1999, actor Tetsuya Bessho—who is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in the United States—founded the American Short Shorts Film Festival with a desire to introduce "short films," which he encountered in the U.S., to Japan as a new visual genre.
In 2001, the festival was renamed to Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF), and in 2004, it was officially recognized as an Academy Awards® qualifying film festival by the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. That same year, aiming to promote a new visual culture originating in Asia and to foster emerging filmmakers, Short Shorts Film Festival Asia (SSFF ASIA) was established in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Today, the combined name SSFF & ASIA represents the full scope of the festival’s activities.
In 2018, to commemorate the festival’s 20th anniversary, the Grand Prix was renamed the George Lucas Award, in honor of director George Lucas. In January 2019, a special commemorative event, Short Shorts Film Festival in Hollywood, was held.
Starting with the 2019 edition of the festival, the Best Short Award winners in four categories—Live Action (International, Asia International, and Japan) and Non-Fiction—have qualified for consideration in the following year’s Academy Awards® Short Film categories. From 2022, this qualification has been extended to include the Best Short in the Animation category, making a total of five qualifying titles.
Through its various initiatives, SSFF & ASIA continues to support and celebrate young creators around the world.
Top Message
On June 4th 1999, our film festival came to life at the streetscapes of Shibuya, Harajuku and Omotesando. Five years later, the “Asian International Division” was invented and it became a film festival accredited by the Academy AwardsR offering a bridge between Japan and the world. And, with the cooperation of all those who love the festival, it became a platform to gather future filmmakers.
In addition to the film festival held in June every year, we are continually working on promoting short films and movie culture through various projects. For example, in the “Branded Shorts” project launched in 2016, we brought together a company with promotional and branding challenges, and short film producers to create a new short film production model. Additionally, the online cinema “Brillia SHORTSHORTS THEATER ONLINE” that started in 2018 made it possible to access worldwide short films at any time, from anywhere.
Our goal is not limited to holding film festivals. We strive to cultivate short film culture in Japan. We aspire to expand the possibilities of short film through collaborations with others. In the new era beyond our 20th anniversary, we will keep tackling new film works.
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia / Pacific Voice Inc.
President
Tetsuya Bessho
