News & Reports

【Live Action Competition, International Category, & Non-Fiction Competition】

Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo, Juri Ueno, Miyuki Fukuma

【Live Action Competition Asia International Category & Japan Category】

Shunji Iwai, Sandrine Faucher Cassidy, Satoshi Jimbo

【Animation Competition】

Tao Okamoto, Ryohei Odai, Tomoyuki Sugiyama

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) 2025, an Academy Awards® accredited and one of the largest international short film festivals in Asia and originating in Japan, is pleased to announce the official jury members for the festival. The best short films in each category and section that will be nominated for the Academy Awards® in the following year.

In addition to the festival directors and programmers who have been involved in the selection process at international film festivals, the jury will judge this year‘s short films from a variety of perspectives, including filmmakers, actors, and cultural figures. https://www.shortshorts.org/2025/en/jury/

■Live Action Competition / International Category Judges

29 nominated films among 1980 submissions form 91 countries and regions

■Non-Fiction Competition Judges：

14 nominated films among 295 submissions form 35 countries and regions

Debo Adedayo ( Actor, Producer), Juri Ueno (Actor), Miyuki Fukuma (Producer)

■Live Action Competition/Asia International Category Judges：

21 nominated films among 738 submissions from 21 countries and regions

■Live Action Competition/Japan Category Judges：

Out of 218 submissions, 21 nominated films were screened

Shunji Iwai (Director) , Sandrine Faucher Cassidy （USC’s Senior Director of Festival, Distribution & Talent Development）, Satoshi Jimbo (Actor)

■Animation Competition Judges：

25 nominated films among 417 submissions from 52 countries and regions

Tao Okamoto（Actor, Model, Director), Ryohei Odai (TV Personality, Actor ) Tomoyuki Sugiyama (President of Digital Hollywood University / Doctor of Engineering)

Each winning film will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

The International, Asia International, and Japan categories of the Live Action Competition, as well as the Best Animation and Best Non-Fiction categories, and the George Lucas Award (Grand Prix) will be announced at the Awards Ceremony.

SSFF & ASIA 2024 Live Action Competition / International Category Non-Fiction Competition Judges

Debo Adedayo (Actor, Content Producer, CEO, Mr. Macaroni Entertainment)

Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo, popularly known as Mr. Macaroni, is an award-winning Nigerian actor, content producer, and humanitarian. A trained thespian and founder of Mr. Macaroni Entertainment, he creates highquality drama content and brand marketing campaigns. Debo rose to fame in 2019 with his satirical Daddy Wacharacter and, with over 16 million followers, he seamlessly blends humor with social impact. His credits include Lisabi (Netflix), Freedom Way, and The Legend of The Vagabond Queen (TIFF, Red Sea 2024). Acclaimed for his art and advocacy, Debo was named on The Nollywood 100 list as one of Nigeria’s most influential film figures.

Juri Ueno (Actor)

Born on 05.25.1986. Won the Academy Award for the Best Newcomer for her first movie “Swing Girls” in 2004. In 2019, she starred in the drama “Medical Examiner Asagao,” which aired for an unprecedented two consecutive seasons (Season 1 and Season 2) and won the Bronze Award in the acting category at the NY Festival. In 2008, “Nodame Cantabile,” the drama series in which she played the leading role for the first time, was made into a double feature film with the first part and second part filmed on location overseas. In 2023, it was made into a musical and performed by herself. She has also acted in a wide range of other productions. This year, she dubbed for the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon‘s new film “Puffin Rock and The New Friends” (May 30). Her fashion brand “Tui Kauri” is made with a focus on recycling that is friendly to the global environment and people, and has been rated among the world’s best brands by Good On You, an ethical fashion evaluation organization established in Australia.

Miyuki Fukuma

After completing graduate school and studying abroad in Geneva, she worked for a production company. In 2014, participated in the founding of “BUNBUKU.” Recent productions include “The Truth” (2019), a Japan-France coproduction directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, which was officially selected for the competition section of the Venice International Film Festival; the Korean film “Broker” (2022), which won the Best Actor Award and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival; and the Netflix series “Asura” (2025). Other notable works include the omnibus film “Ten Years Japan” (2018), created by five emerging directors, and “Untitled (Human Mask)”, a video project by contemporary artist Pierre Huyghe. Additionally, “A Pale View of Hills,” a Japan-UK-Poland coproduction directed by Kei Ishikawa and based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, is set to have its world premiere in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the Cannes Film Festival 2025.

SSFF & ASIA 2025 Live Action Competition/Asia International Category Live Action Competition/Japan Category Judges

Shunji Iwai

Born in 1963 in Miyagi Prefecture. Since 1988, has an impressive career in all manners of film production on TV dramas and music videos. His distinctive visual style is often referred to as “Iwai Aesthetics.” In 1995, he made his feature film directorial debut with “Love Letter.” His notable works include “Swallowtail,” “All About Lily Chou-Chou,” “Hana and Alice,” “Vampire,” and “Last Letter.” In 2012, he wrote the lyrics for “Flowers Will Bloom,” a song created to support recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake. He ventured into feature-length animation with “The Case of Hana & Alice,” which received critical acclaim both in Japan and internationally. In October 2023, he released “Kyrie’s Song.” With international appeal, he continues to work across diverse genres on a global scale.

Sandrine Faucher Cassidy USC’s Senior Director of Festival, Distribution & Talent Development)

Sandrine grew up in Morocco and France. She joined Unifrance in 1996 and discovered the world of festivals. The relationships she built with programmers gave her a specific insight into each festival and their subtle differences of style and mission. Sandrine moved to Los Angeles and since 1998, serves with passion as USC’s Senior Director of Festival, Distribution & Talent Development. She advises students and alumni on strategies for their student films and independent features in the festival circuit and reach their career goals. She is responsible for the Licensing of the large catalogue of USC shorts. She has recently taken a creative role on screenplays, or films in post production as Producer on independent features, Sandrine is often invited to participate in juries, panels or to give individual mentoring sessions. She has been on the Tribeca Festival screening committee since 2015.

Satoshi Jimbo

Born on December 3, 1962, in Shizuoka Prefecture. He made his official acting debut in 1992 with the TV drama Requiem for a Father: Navy Paymaster Lieutenant Shinkichi Koizumi. Since then, he has appeared in a wide range of works including TV dramas, films, stage productions, and narrations. Recent notable appearances include the films Doctor-X: The Movie FINAL (2024) and Knuckle Girl (2023); TV dramas such as the AIBOU series, The Yoshimune Chronicle : Abarenbo Shogun New version (TV Asahi), Secret Makeover (NTV), and Gifted Season 2 (WOWOW); and stage productions like RONINGAI (2025), A Better Tomorrow (2024), and Joan of Arc (2023).

SSFF & ASIA 2024 Animation Competition Judges

Tao Okamoto （Actor, Model, Film Director）

Tao Okamoto made her debut as a model at the age of 14 in Japan, and in 2006, she moved to Paris. Since then, she has appeared in numerous top fashion shows in Paris, Milan, London, and New York, as well as in various magazines and campaigns. In 2013, she made her screen debut in 20th Century Fox’s “The Wolverine.” Her career has flourished with roles in major films such as “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016), along with numerous independent projects. Tao has also showcased her talent in international and domestic TV series, including “Westworld” (HBO), “Hannibal” (NBC), “Last Man” (TBS), and “The Silent Service” (Amazon). In 2023, she expanded her creative horizons by debuting as a screenwriter, producer, and director with “Sun & Moon.” She is currently producing her third film, “My Sweet Pala”. In addition, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest film will be released in 2026.

Ryohei Odai （TV Persnality, Actor）

Born February 23, 1971 in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from Kobe Gakuin University, Faculty of Law. While working as a sales representative for an electronics manufacturer, he started modeling to make friends in Sendai, where he was transferred to work. In 2002, he made his acting debut as Shuichi Kitaoka, Kamen Rider Zolda, in “Kamen Rider Ryuki.” From 2007 to 2022, he performed as Junretsu, a mood song chorus group, and participated in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen for five consecutive years. He graduated from “Junretsu” in the end 2022. Currently, as a TV personality and actor, he is active in a wide range of activities, mainly as a reporter who travels around Japan on location for travel programs and interacts with local people, as well as in musicals, dramas, and as a commentator for information programs.

Ryohei Odai Official Fan Club https://odairyohei.fanpla.jp

Tomoyuki Sugiyama(President of Digital Hollywood University / Doctor of Engineering)

Born in Tokyo, 1954. Worked as a visiting researcher at MIT Media Lab for 3 years from 1987. After working as the chief researcher at the International Media Research Foundation in 1990 and a full-time instructor at Nihon University Junior College in 1993, established Digital Hollywood Co., LTD. in October, 1994. Opened Digital Hollywood Graduate School (Graduate School of Digital Content) in 2004 which is the first graduate school for specialists run by a corporation in Japan. Opened Digital Hollywood University (School of Digital Communications) in the following year and currently serving as the President of the University. The e-book “Digital Stream- Re-Designing the Future” (new edition) was published in March 2022.