Call for Entries for Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026 Opens Worldwide from Friday, August 1Japan’s First! Digital Wallets Automatically Issued to All Entrants Participating in Web 3.0 Services, Including NFT Voting and Content Trading Global Call for Entries via the Film Festival Platform “LIFE LOG BOX”The Best Short Films in the Live Action, Non-Fiction, and Animation Categories Will Be Considered for the U.S. Academy Awards® Short Film Categories. We Also Actively Welcome Submissions in Specialized Genres Including “Food,” “Art,” “Vertical Format,” “Horror,” and “Comedy
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), one of the largest international short film festivals in Asia and an Academy Awards® accredited festival, begins accepting submissions for its 2026 edition starting Friday, August 1. In 2025, film submissions are accepted through “LIFE LOG BOX (LLB),” a rights management platform operated by Visual Voice that specializes in content and data asset management for short films. Every submitting creator automatically receives a digital wallet, enabling them to participate in upcoming Web3 services on the platform, including NFT-based voting and content trading. This initiative aims to develop into a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) community, enabling the film festival, creators, and audiences to interact directly, while utilizing blockchain technology to ensure transparent and automated management of rules, budgeting, and voting processes. SSFF & ASIA offers a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind initiative in Japan that opens up limitless possibilities for creators, starting with the simple act of submitting a film.
Made Possible by an Academy Awards® Accredited Festival —
A Chance for Creators to Rise to Stardom in the World of Film and Video
For SSFF & ASIA 2026, submissions are accepted from both Japan and overseas across a wide range of categories, including Live Action, Non-Fiction, and Animation—each with the award-winning films eligible for recommendation to the following year’s Academy Awards® Short Film categories. Additional categories include the Cinematic Tokyo competition, focusing on works themed around Tokyo; the U-25 Project, open to young creators aged 25 and under residing in Japan; and BRANDED SHORTS, which highlights branded films created by companies and local governments.
Submissions of vertical format works are on the rise
We are actively seeking submissions of eye-catching “vertical” video works.
In each category, we are also actively seeking submissions based on themes and genres such as “Food,” “Art,” “Vertical Format,” “Horror,” and “Comedy” in preparation for special features at the 2026 festival. The BOOK SHORTS Award accepts not only short stories but also comics and screenplays as eligible entries.
Short videos released on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok are also eligible for nomination.
In past festivals, we have created various award opportunities beyond the main categories, including the SHIBUYA DIVERSITY AWARD for works themed around diversity; the “Save the Earth! Environment Minister’s Award” for films addressing environmental issues; the “HOPPY HAPPY AWARD” for works that best embody the spirit of HAPPY!/発幸; and the “J-WAVE SOUND OF CINEMA Award” for films where music, singing, voices, sounds, or instruments play a unique and effective role. These awards have opened up many chances for recognition and further opportunities for creators.
Who will be the next winner of the Grand-Prix=George Lucas Award!?
We look forward to receiving submissions from filmmakers around the world for the 2026 festival!
Submit Your Work for SSFF & ASIA 2026 — Global Call for Entries Now Open:
[URL] https://app.lifelogbox.com/festival/shortshorts/
SSFF & ASIA 2026 Submission Guidelines
■ Categories:
Live Action (International / Asia International / Japan)
Non-Fiction
Animation
Cinematic Tokyo
U-25 Project
BRANDED SHORTS
BOOK SHORTS Award
■ Submission Period:
Starts from Friday, August 1, 2025, 14:00 JST
Deadline varies by category.
■ How to Apply / More Details:
Please refer to the SSFF & ASIA 2026 submission page:
https://app.lifelogbox.com/festival/shortshorts/
■ Announcement of Results:
Shortlists for Live Action, Non-Fiction, and Animation categories will be announced on the website at the end of the second month following each submission month. The final selected works will be chosen from the shortlisted entries.
The final selected works from all categories (films to be screened at the festival) will be announced on the website by the end of April 2026.
■ Contact for Inquiries:
submission@shortshorts.org
Please note that selection criteria may be subject to change due to revisions by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
【LIFE LOG BOX】
Leveraging a network of over 100,000 creators both in Japan and worldwide, and connected with SSFF & ASIA, this content data management platform for the Web 3.0 era empowers anyone to create and share content as a creator through smartphones, social media, and video streaming services. By providing data storage services as its core, the platform offers creators opportunities to thrive.
Creators can showcase their portfolios, viewing rights, and other information to creators, fans, and companies around the world. Data entrusted to the platform is linked to an NFT marketplace that returns profits to creators.