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Programming increased at the 2001 film festival to six programs featuring the works of 51 filmmakers from around the world. As with previous years, films at American Short Shorts 2001 had high production values, impressive screening histories at the world's most prestigious film festivals, and Academy Award ® nominations. The 2001 festival highlighted the early works of acclaimed filmmaker Tim Burton, whose world hit features include "Planet of the Apes".

Supporting Japan!

The American Short Shorts began its drive to gather Japanese short films for a special "J Shorts" program in 2001. More than 300 Japanese short films were submitted for consideration, and the festival's broad outreach to Japanese filmmakers drew attention from the short film festivals worldwide.

Panel Discussions and Festival Jury

The Committee for American Short Shorts, in collaboration with the Japan - U.S. Visual Media Culture Foundation, established a Jury Award in 2001. The winner of this cash award was selected by jurors from various professional backgrounds. The 2001 jury was comprised of the following members:

Yuki Amami (Actress)
Keiko Ibi (Filmmaker)
Shinya Kawai (Film Producer)
Konishiki (former Sumo Wrestler)
Ryu Murakami (Writer)

The award was announced on the last day of the Tokyo event along with the Audience Award, which was selected by festival attendees.

In addition to film screenings, the festival organized panel discussions and other events to allow the 15 visiting filmmakers from the United States and young local creators to discuss short filmmaking. Special events with Japanese film director, Joji Iida and well-known stop motion animation artist, Koji Kataoka also drew large audiences of film fans and filmmakers alike.

Special Screening of Cannes Palme d'Or Winner!

American Short Shorts was fortunate to be the first Japanese venue to screen the 2001 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Palme d'Or winner, "Bean Cake", a film set in Imperial Japan.

The director of "Bean Cake", David Greenspan and the film, with its thematic roots in pre-war Japan and its lead character played by popular Japanese teen idol, Sayaka, received national television and print coverage.

Changes in the Film Festival Come together with Changes in Technology

The theme of the 2001 festival focused on the discussion of traditional film technology versus new digital technology. As the world transition from analog to digital, festival goers were able to experience changes in filmmaking techniques through panel discussions and also to be exposed to a new technology, the Digital Light Projection System (DLP).

Volunteer Network Expansion

Sweepers, the festival's tremendously successful collaboration with the Harajuku Neighborhood Committee, gained national coverage again in 2001 with an even larger volunteer group that included 15 filmmakers working to clean up the streets around the venue.

Festival Executive Director, Tetsuya Bessho, with a broom and dustpan in hands, led groups to clean Harajuku and increased community awareness of the film festival.

Satellite Festivals and Launch Overseas

The national tour of American Short Shorts continued to grow in 2001 with events in Sapporo, Nagoya, Okinawa and Matsumoto. In addition, Pay Per View Japan aired selected short films from American Short Shorts in a satellite festival on its pay channels.

American Short Shorts also made its debut in Singapore in 2001. Festival committee members from Japan, and the U.S., and filmmakers attended the event in Singapore, which marked ASSFF's first international tour.

Awards