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TYO
TYO
The creative partner, TYO Inc. is a production company engaged in strategic proposals, planning, and creation of communication content.
We are a team of professionals who take what you want to say and transform it into the most engaging form possible.
Day by day, we produce things that move those who see them. From images, events, and digital materials to experiential content for use in television commercials and online, as well as music and statement videos, we strive to realize a society in which widely diverse values can coexist.
We also engage in providing opportunities for young filmmakers.
The TYO Student Movie Award
The TYO Student Movie Award is held by TYO Inc., which has a proven track record and expertise in the production of a wide variety of video contents, such as TV commercials and online videos, and has produced many commercial and film directors.
The TYO Student Movie Award sets a theme and calls for 60-second short films. The theme for the 6th award is “Rule.” Festival President Tetsuya Bessho has participated as a special juror to select the short films created by the students, continuing from the 1st Award.
The 6th TYO Student Movie Award – Gold Winner
Between the Red Lights
Online streaming ＋ Venue screening
Drama / Japan / 0:01:00 / 2026
In a brief moment of waiting at a traffic light, a quiet tension and sense of intimacy emerge between two strangers. This short film captures the subtle emotional shifts and invisible rules that shape everyday life in the city.
Director
Sophia Abenova
Born in Sochi, Russia.
Currently studying aesthetics and art theory at the University of Tokyo.
She mainly creates independent suspense films while exploring works that cross genres and cultures.
Her films depict subtle unease in everyday life and the complexity of emotions that are difficult to express.
The 6th TYO Student Movie Award – Silver Winner
Smombie
Online streaming ＋ Venue screening
Thriller/ Japan / 0:01:00 / 2026
Young people walk through the city, absorbed in their smartphones and unaware of those around them. Even when warned, they feel no guilt, moving on like zombies. Their careless actions lead to a major accident that affects the whole city. Still, they never look away from the screens in their hands.
Director
Takumi Yamano
Born in 2007. Currently studying English and American Literature at Aoyama Gakuin University. Self-taught in VFX and color grading, he creates live-action films using visual effects. In 2026, his short film Smombie won the Silver Prize at the TYO Student Movie Award. He focuses on portraying subtle discomforts and social issues in everyday life through a cinematic style.
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