News & Reports

TOKYO — Celebrating its 28th year, the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) 2026—an Academy Awards® accredited festival and one of Asia’s largest international short film festivals—has successfully concluded. Under this year’s theme, “Cinema Engineering,” the festival delivered experiences that deeply resonated with audiences by seamlessly weaving together camera work, lighting, sound, and AI.

Out of an impressive 4,921 submissions from 114 countries and regions worldwide, 245 films were selected for screening. In addition to the competition programs, this year’s festival featured the “Culinary Program: Memories of Flavor” and the “Art Program,” showcased trends in AI utilization and vertical video, and announced new collaborations with the Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council, the Yokohama International Film Festival, and the WORLD A.I. FILM FESTIVAL JAPAN .

At today’s Award Ceremony, marking the culmination of the 2026 festival, the winners were announced. SSFF & ASIA has been achieving a record high for domestic film festivals, with a total of 5 categories now eligible for Academy Awards® nomination. These include the three Live Action competitions (International, Asia International, and Japan), the Non-Fiction competition, and the Animation competition. Awards were also presented for the U-25 Project, Shibuya Diversity Award, HOPPY HAPPY AWARD, CyberAgent Vertical Award, Best Thrill Award supported by CRG, and the newly established Tom Yoda Next Frame Award. The festival’s highest honor, the prestigious George Lucas Award (Grand Prix), was selected by an esteemed jury consisting of Yuya Ishii, Kristin Ji, Miki Mizuno, Ryan Ashore, Kazuki Kitamura, Chieko Murata, Ayaka Wada, Yusuke Hirota, and Tomoyuki Sugiyama.

The Grand Prix was awarded to “SPEEDY!”  (South Korea), directed by Jiin Oh , which also won the Best Short Award in the Live Action Competition’s Asia International category. The jury offered high praise for the vast array of diverse films gathered from around the globe, highlighting their ability to effortlessly transcend borders and language barriers. “As the story progressed, I felt the language barrier completely dissolve,” remarked juror Miki Mizuno. Juror Kazuki Kitamura added, “Because it’s a short film, it truly questions whether ‘cinema can command the atmosphere.’

It reaffirmed the paramount importance of screenwriting, editing, and directing in capturing the audience’s heart and powerfully delivering a message within a limited timeframe.“

In addition to the main award results announced at today’s ceremony, the Best Actor Awards have also been revealed below. Nominated films across the Live Action, Non-Fiction, and Animation competitions—including all award-winning titles—will be available for streaming on the Festival Online Grand Theater until Tuesday, June 30. We would highly appreciate your media coverage and features on this event.

SSFF & ASIA 2026 Grand Prix “George Lucas Award“  

Live-action Competition Asia International Best Short Award / Governor of Tokyo Award【 Candidate for the 99^th Academy Awards Nominee】

【Reason for Award 】

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.

Live-action Competition  International Best Short Award 【Candidate for The 99^th Academy Award Nominee】

【Reason for Award】

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.

Live-action Competition Japan Best Short Award / Governor of Tokyo Award
【Candidate for The 99^th Academy Award Nominee】

【Reason for Award】

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.

■The number of submissions for the Official Competition
・International Competition　　　Submissions：2295（99 countries and regions） Screened：29
・Asia International Competition　　Submissions：781（46 countries and regions） Screened：23
・Japan Competition 　　　　　　　　　　　 Submissions：255   Screened：22
■Prize Money：¥600,000 (JPY)
■Judges :International 　 Yuya Ishii, Christin Ji, Miki Mizuno
               Asia Internationa / Japan    Ryan Shore,  Kazuki Kitamura, Chieko Murata

Non-Fiction Competition Best Short Award 【Candidate for The 99^th Academy Award Nominee】

【Reason for Award 】

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.

■Non-fiction Program　Submissions：354（61 countries and regions） Screened：16
■Prize Money：¥600,000 (JPY)　■Judges：Yuya Ishii, Christin Ji, Miki Mizuno

Animation Competition Best Short Award【 Candidate for The 99^th Academy Award Nominee】 　

【Reason for Award】

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.

■Animation Program  　Submissions：417（35 countries） Screened：52
■Prize Money：¥600,000 (JPY)
■Judges　（Alphabetical Order）： Tomoyuki Sugiyama、Tao Okamoto、Ryōhei Odai

U-25 Project Best Short Award　

【Reason for Award】

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.

Shibuya Diversity Award

This award will be given to a work chosen from a selection of films that picture diversity and inclusion, which are part of the educational activities to spread the fundamental plan of Shibuya City.

Tom Yoda Next Frame Award

An award presented among the 2026 nominees to young Japanese creators—students or those who have not yet begun their professional careers—who demonstrate strong ambition on a global scale, supporting their learning in filmmaking and encouraging their challenge toward the next stage.

HOPPY HAPPY AWARD

The “Be HAPPY with HOPPY Award” will be chosen from among the nominated short films by Japanese directors that best embodies Hoppy beverage’s theme of being “HAPPY with HOPPY.” The winning works will be screened at “HOPPY HAPPY THEATER” which will open in June.

Best Thrill Award supported by CRG 　

Focusing on unique, addictive, and uncanny horror that thrives in the social media era, this section explores subtle unease in daily life.Creator agency CRG will present the Common Theme Award (Special Saikyo Award) for “Fear Hidden in Everyday Life,” four Monthly Theme Awards, and the Best Thrill Award Supported by CRG—the grand prize chosen from the five winners for the piece that most powerfully shakes the audience.

CyberAgent Vertical Award

An award presented to works or projects that have demonstrated “high impact and expressive power” in vertical short film
content within Japan in recent years

BEST ACTOR AWARD

This award is presented to actors from each category of the Live Action Competition—International, Asia International, and Japan—whose exceptional performances brought profound emotion to the film.

【International Category】

『Kentucky Gaza 』　

Director：Omar Rammal/ 21:00 / Jordan / Drama / 2025

In besieged Gaza, where the existence of Kentucky survives only as legend, Anwar transforms the masses’ craving into a successful smuggling venture, while single‑handedly deepening the emotional wound between himself and his father.

包囲下のガザ。ケンタッキーフライドチキンの存在はもはや伝説としてのみ語られる地で、アンワルは人々の欲望を利用して密輸事業を成功させるが、同時に父とのあいだに深い感情の傷を刻み込んでいく。

【Actor：Yazan Nobani　Reason for Award】

We are honored to award Best Actor in the International Competition to Yazan Nobani for his exceptional performance in Kentucky Gaza. Nobani’s presence is so commanding that it is impossible to look away. Without relying on overt melodrama or heavy dialogue, he utilizes subtle expressions and powerful eye expression to convey a deeply authentic, natural conduct that blurs the line between fiction and reality. He masterfully transports the audience across a series of emotions of happiness, anxiety, and hope. The camera absolutely loves him, and he is undoubtedly a rising star to keep a close eye on. We are proud to celebrate his immense talent and know our audience will fall in love with his performance.

【Asia International Category】

『That’s A Wrap 』　

Director：Sunny Hinduja & Shinjini Raval/ 22:48 / India / Drama / 2025

On the final day of an indie film shoot, a married actor couple prepares for the story’s defining scene. With every take, their performance begins to echo their real lives. Unspoken resentments surface, and fiction slowly collapses into truth, leaving them to confront a marriage far more complicated than the script.

【Actor:　Shinjini Raval, Sunny Hinduja）Reason for Award】

We are incredibly proud to present the Best Acting Award jointly to Shinjini Raval and Sunny Hinduja for their towering performances in That’s a Wrap. Fully relying on acting, this ultimate meta-cinematic film is a powerful tour de force. Their undeniable chemistry and fierce exchange prove they left their absolute souls in this masterpiece.

【Japan Category】

『Unknown』　

Director：Nanase Nakamura / 14：00 / Japan / Drama / 2025

Yusuke, an elementary school boy who has lost his place to belong because of his parents’ debt, spends time at an hideout with his younger sister Misa and their childhood friend Kazuya, the only person he trusts.

When they unexpectedly find six million yen in cash in an abandoned place, the relationship between the three begins to fall apart.

【Actor：Miyabi Hori, Yusei Ando, Meisa Kikuchi　Reason for Award】

The film explores how a pure friendship begins to unravel under the weight of poverty, family circumstances, and the sudden appearance of a large sum of money. Despite the heavy subject matter, the three young actors portrayed their characters’ struggles and heartbreak with remarkable authenticity, making every emotion feel real.

Their performances were natural yet deeply convincing. It was astonishing to see such emotional depth at such a young age. They are truly promising young talents, and we look forward to seeing their future work.