Awards Winners

Trio

Fridtjof Josefsen & Morten Borgestad

Trio captures the very essence of what makes short cinema so brilliant. By stripping away all unnecessary noise, explanations, and dialogue, the filmmaker delivers a perfectly condensed, non-verbal masterpiece that can be universally enjoyed by audiences of all ages across the globe. The jury highly praised its exceptional entertainment value, noting that achieving this level of pure, unadulterated fun requires a masterful level of skill. Beneath its delightful pacing lies a deeply relatable core; the character of the ‘third man’ beautifully mirrors the quiet struggle of the everyday individual trying to find their place in a world filled with relentless competition. It is a joyful, masterfully executed film that you immediately want to recommend to everyone you know.

SPEEDY!

Jiin Oh

Brilliant and highly imaginative, SPEEDY! is a standout piece of cinema that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. The jury highly praised the director’s outstanding cinematography and editing, which brings to life a uniquely dubious yet nostalgic 1980s setting. By using the ‘speed-reading school’ as a motif for the absurdity of human nature, the film highlights a beautiful contrast between a child’s purity and the complex world of adults. With its superb casting and masterful use of music and color, SPEEDY! is a confident, charming, and deeply moving Asia Competition Winner.

Round and Round

Hayato Otogi

Round and Round delivers a quiet, deeply reflective story through a brilliant single, fixed-shot approach. The jury highly praised the director’s clever understanding of low-budget filmmaking, proving that constraints can yield immense artistic value. By relying on a long take that brings out the absolute best in the script, the film creates an intimate atmosphere where the dialogue and performances carry the profound emotional weight of a ten-year reunion. While exploring the familiar yet heavy theme of overcoming death, the narrative develops its characters with incredible speed and uses subtle visual motifs, such as the amulet, to create a powerful, theatrical, yet deeply cinematic connection.

Kentucky Gaza

Yazan nobani

That’s A Wrap

Shinjini Raval, Sunny Hinduja

Unknown

Miyabi Hori, Yusei Ando, Meisa Kikuchi

The Tuners

Paweł Piotr Chorzępa

Set against the glamorous backdrop of a high-stakes piano competition, The Tuners brilliantly portrays usually behind-the-scenes piano tuners as incredibly cool characters, delivering a poignant lesson that the top, highlighted spot can change at any time in any industry. The jury highly praised its thrilling and entertaining aspect with a powerful sense of tension, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats while offering a unique glimpse into a hidden world. Enhanced by a beautifully musical direction, the story leaves a lasting impact, particularly with its purposely ambiguous ending that gives the audience room for imagination.

With Tapes and Toasts in the Car

Kiana Naghshineh

While dealing with the profound weight of incurable illness and real-life suffering, With Tapes and Toasts in the Car masterfully balances its heavy themes with a light, imaginative touch, specifically Shari’s cosmic journey and search for Laika. The jury highly praised how the narrative beautifully intersects reality with a cosmic escape into space, offering a unique, scientific, and atomic connection to the universe. Complemented by impressive, gender-neutral character designs, light colors, and a deeply moving ending filled with family warmth, this animation truly resonates as a powerful and comforting piece of storytelling.

Tokyo Submarine

Ryosuke Takahashi

Tokyo Submarine was well received as a finely crafted human drama that carefully portrays the inner lives and relationships of people living in the city, quietly expressing the subtle emotions found within everyday life.
In addition, the film naturally weaves the diverse landscapes of Tokyo into its narrative, resonating with the emotions of its characters while effectively conveying the attraction and atmosphere of the city to audiences both in Japan and abroad.

Backstitch

Yugo Takada

Backstitch is a perfect example of what smart and resourceful filmmaking is. It presents an original and funny idea in a limited space. The film grabs the audience right away with its lively energy, natural performances, and excellent editing. While it feels raw and youthful, the film shows a level of skill, fun, and enthusiasm that represents the best of the U-25 competition. It’s an extremely entertaining piece that keeps a smile on your face from start to finish.

The Storyborn Land

Subaru Hamaya

Destinagency

Hiroki Yagi

AIDOL KACHO

Chavo

Hirokazu Kore-eda

DOCOOK

Habu Solami

Not a Bad Sound

Koki Nakamura

Baldies: What about my hair

Eliška Soffer Podzimek

After Us

Wahid Ibn Reza

Samia

Selma Alaoui & Bruno Tracq

We are deeply honored to receive the J-WAVE SOUND OF CINEMA AWARD for « Samia ».

It is very moving for us that a story created in Europe, with North African roots and influences, can resonate with audiences all the way to Japan, especially through music and sound.

The soundtrack was central to the making of the film. We paid particular attention to its sonic world, especially through the presence of Gnawa music, which became the soul of the film for us. It allowed us to create a space where love, grief, memory, and invisible forces could coexist, guiding both the characters and the audience through an emotional journey.

Receiving this award from the listeners of J-WAVE makes it even more meaningful to us.
Thank you warmly to the festival, the jury, and the audience in Japan.

The Baddest Speechwriter of All

Ben Proudfoot

The World Is Dancing

Toshimasa Kuroyanagi