News & Reports

On May 28, 2025, the 27th Short Shorts Film Festival & ASIA held its Opening Ceremony at the newly opened Takanawa Gateway City.

The Red Carpet Ceremony was held under clear blue skies, followed by the Opening Ceremony at LINKPILLAR HALL.

Following a greeting from the festival’s representative, Tetsuya Bessho, an impressive lineup of award recipients—including director Naomi Kawase, Shigeaki Kato, Sukima Switch, CreepHyp’s Sekaikan Ozaki, Nanase Nishino, and Kanata Hongo—took the stage, receiving thunderous applause from the audience. Mr. Tokura, Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, also appeared on stage to offer warm encouragement and speak to the significance of promoting Japanese culture through film.

Many awardees cited the unique charm and possibilities of short films, and claimed they “couldn’t have done it alone.” Their heartfelt gratitude for teamwork and passion for filmmaking left a lasting impression.

In addition to the excitement of the live experience at the venue, the ceremony was also streamed on the official YouTube channel, allowing fans all around the world to enjoy the event in real time.
You can watch the archived video here!

Volunteers and Interns Behind the Scenes
As interns, we had the opportunity to support the event alongside the volunteers, helping out with reception and guiding guests. Seeing the excited expressions of so many attendees up close brought us so much joy.

It was truly an honor to be part of the organizing team for a film festival filled with so many hopes and dreams. At the same time, this day reminded me that it is truly through the contributions of each and every person that such a wonderful event can continue to thrive.

Of course, short films are at the heart of it all—but I also hope we were able to help others enjoy the festive atmosphere, and the special feeling of stepping into a world just a little outside of the everyday life.

We’ll keep giving it our all as we head toward the Award Ceremony on June 11!

As interns, we conducted many interviews towards the guests of today’s ceremony.

We were able to hear their thoughts on walking the red carpet, as well as many exclusive behind-the-scene episodes!

These interviews will be uploaded on our various social media platform, so please make sure to check them out!

【Official Social Media】

・TikTok  ・Instagram  ・X

Thank you so much again to those who joined us for the Opening Ceremony of SSFF & ASIA 2025.

This is only the beginning. From now until the 11th of June, we will have many extraordinary works airing at our venues. We cannot wait for you to experience Asia’s largest international short film festival.

Us staff members will do our best to create an unforgettable experience.

We look forward to seeing you soon!