The 27th edition of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) 2025, Asia’s largest international short film festival and an Academy Awards–recognized event, kicked off on May 28th, 2025, at the newly opened TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY in Tokyo. The festival opened with a vibrant Red Carpet Ceremony and Opening Ceremony, drawing a host of celebrated guests including Shigeaki Kato, Nanase Nishino, Kanata Hongo, Mizuki Yoshida, Yu Kashii, Takumi Nishigaki, and Ten Yamazaki.
This year’s theme, “Creative Active Generative,” highlights the festival’s dedication to fostering creativity, promoting dynamic interactions among filmmakers, audiences, and industry players, and embracing cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI to inspire a new era of storytelling.
The Red Carpet Ceremony took place in Gateway Park, where guests dazzled the crowd under clear skies. Nanase Nishino arrived in an elegant black fringe dress, responding warmly to enthusiastic fans, while actor Oh Man-seok charmed attendees with spontaneous autograph sessions.
The Opening Ceremony, held at the underground LINKPILLAR Hall A & B, featured award announcements and project presentations. Notably, the inaugural TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY Award was presented to acclaimed filmmaker Naomi Kawase, who shared her reflections on the lasting legacy of film, emphasizing the importance of capturing stories that endure for centuries.
Celebrating contributions to short film culture, the festival honored Shigeaki Kato and the team behind “MIRRORLIAR FILMS Season 7” with a special award. Kato expressed heartfelt gratitude for the collective effort behind filmmaking and the recognition of their work supporting young talent and regional revitalization.
From the GEMSTONE Creative Label produced by TOHO, three directors and their casts took the stage, including Nanase Nishino and Kanata Hongo from Influencer Ghost, Takumi Nishigaki and Ten Yamazaki from Sonic Beat, and Mizuki Yoshida and Yu Kashii from The Faceless Town. These innovative short films spotlight emerging directors and feature bold, experimental storytelling.
Nanase Nishino spoke about her love of horror games, which helped her connect deeply with the genre-infused film Influencer Ghost, describing the shoot as a fresh and rewarding experience. Kanata Hongo praised director Masaki Nishiyama for his clear vision despite his youth. Ten Yamazaki reflected on the excitement and challenges of his first film role, noting the short film’s intense pacing and powerful sound design. Mizuki Yoshida and Yu Kashii shared insights into their unique roles and the intense focus required in short film acting.
Additional highlights included the presentation of the J-WAVE SOUND OF CINEMA AWARD to Portuguese director Gonçalo Almeida for Atom & Void, and the BOOK SHORT AWARD to Mari Nakanishi for her screenplay Amagoi, a poignant story about a drought-stricken village.
The festival also featured a special appearance by Oh Man-seok, who shared his excitement about participating in a Japanese film festival for the first time and announced plans to submit his own short film next year.
Closing the ceremony, Tokyo International Film Festival Chairman Yuko Ando praised the event’s vibrant atmosphere, while festival representative Tetsuya Bessho emphasized the vital role short films play in filmmakers’ careers and encouraged audiences to enjoy the festival both online and in person.
The full ceremony is archived and available to watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ShEmTaJ_Wvw
https://www.shortshorts.org/en/
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