This year 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 be held from June 4th (Opening Ceremony) through June 15th (Award Ceremony) over venues in Tokyo and one in Yokohama. Nearly 5,000 short films from over 110 different countries and regions around the world were in the running, with the cream of the crop -- some 200 titles -- being selected to screen at the festival. Last year, we had a record public attendance of 16,716.

Besides the three official competitions, from which one overall Grand Prix winner will be eligible for an Academy Awards® nomination in one of the short film categories, we have three other competition programs: "Music Shorts," "Save the Earth!" and "CG Animation." For many young filmmakers from Japan and overseas, SSFF & ASIA provides a step up onto the international stage. 2012 SSFF & ASIA Grand Prix winner Atsuko Hirayanagi, for example, was awarded 2nd prize by "Cinefondation" at Cannes Film Festival 2014 for her latest short film, "Oh Lucy" (starring Kaori Momoi). She was the first Japanese female director to have won such a prize.

After being appointed as Festival Ambassador in 2014, celebrity and film commentator LiLiCo has been re-appointed for this year's festival. Once again, she will be appearing at the opening event as well as screenings throughout the festival, energizing the crowds and getting audiences in a convivial mood.