Cinematic Tokyo Competition was established in 2017. This competition category takes submissions from all over the world for short films showcasing the various charms of Tokyo. Productions do not have to be filmed in Tokyo, but must include themes that make one think of Tokyo, be centered on memories of Tokyo or imagine the essence of Tokyo.
5 nominated films selected from the 478 submissions from 64 countries and regions around the world.
Cinematic Tokyo Competition Best Short Award 2026 / Governor of Tokyo Award
Tokyo Submarine
Ryosuke Takahashi / 0:24:55 / Japan / Drama / 2026
Behind Tokyo's glittering noise, everyone carries their own story. Sen Fukami, 42, spends his days drifting through a life that feels stuck. Then he meets a mysterious man, Sakari Hatano, and his everyday life slowly begins to shift. This is a coming-of-age story of two middle-aged men in Tokyo.
Announcement of the award
Comment on winning
SSFF & ASIA 2026 Award Ceremony
Anything you would like to share about your film?
This is a coming-of-age road movie about two men who spend one week together. The story follows Shinkai, a man who meets someone unexpected and begins to take the first step toward changing his life. Over the course of that week, the two meet, grow closer, and eventually have to say goodbye. I hope you'll enjoy watching how their relationship changes along the way. As adults, it's not often that we end up living with someone we've just met. But I think you'll see that these two have a reason for sharing this time together. There's something oddly sweet about seeing these two middle-aged men squeezed into the same frame. I hope that by the end of the film, you'll have come to love them too.
Governor of Tokyo Award trophy
Any filmmakers or films that have inspired your work?
One of the biggest influences on me is the Back to the Future trilogy, directed by Robert Zemeckis and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. I watched a lot of movies as a teenager, but Back to the Future was always my favorite. I watched my VHS tapes so many times they almost wore out, and I still go back to the films today. They were the starting point of my love for movies. Wanting to be like Marty McFly was also what first inspired me to become an actor and pursue a career in entertainment.
Another filmmaker who has had a huge impact on me is Hideaki Anno, especially The End of Evangelion (Air / Magokoro wo, Kimi ni) and Ritual (Shiki-Jitsu). When I saw The End of Evangelion in theaters, I was amazed not only by the story but also by the sudden shift to live-action. Those scenes stayed with me for a long time. Later, when I watched Ritual, I was drawn to its raw, intimate atmosphere and Anno's unique rhythm. His films have a way of making me feel like I'm right there with the characters. I can almost feel the air between them.
Ryosuke Takahashi
Made acting debut in 2004. Has worked across film, stage, and voice acting. In recent years, also active as a stage director, screenwriter, and video director. With "Tokyo Submarine," takes on the role of film director for the first time.
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026
Nominated films in Cinematic Tokyo Competition
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DOUBLE OR NOTHING
Tokay / 0:09:40 / Switzerland / Animation / 2025
Inspired by an anecdote from booming Tokyo in the 1980s, the film tells the glamorous story of the real estate shark Akio Kashiwagi.
Akio's great passion is illegal gambling in the underworld. An American is on his trail and tries to track down stolen money. He realizes that he can only win it back at the gambling table. The master gambler Akio accepts the challenge. However, he doesn't realize that his only really dangerous enemy in the game is himself with his insatiable greed for more and more. -
Shibuya Meltdown
Paris Victor / 0:04:33 / France / Animation / 2024
Shibuya Meltdown is the story of an office worker, drawn in by the call of drawing. One evening, in a Tokyo alley, a simple bowl of ramen leads him down a new path. A magic, poetic, and deeply human film.
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Tears Burn to Ash
Natalie Murao / 0:15:00 / Canada / Drama / 2025
An encounter with a doppelganger cracks open the edges of reality, as a return to the homeland becomes a search through memory, absence, and the ghosts of identity.
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Tokyo Submarine
Ryosuke Takahashi / 0:24:55 / Japan / Drama / 2026
Behind Tokyo's glittering noise, everyone carries their own story. Sen Fukami, 42, spends his days drifting through a life that feels stuck. Then he meets a mysterious man, Sakari Hatano, and his everyday life slowly begins to shift. This is a coming-of-age story of two middle-aged men in Tokyo.
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Tokyo Tourism Paradox
Hiroki Yamaguchi / 0:06:55 / Japan / Sci-Fi / 2026
In a near-future Tokyo pushed to the extreme of hyper-tourism, first-time visitor James is captivated by a carefully staged “Tokyo experience,” but gradually begins to realize that the city is an illusion. In a metropolis designed to be seen, what will he ultimately encounter?
I am truly honored to receive such a wonderful award.
And to all of the cast, crew, and everyone involved in this film, thank you so very much. I am still overwhelmed with surprise and emotion, and honestly at a loss for words. I believe that our desire to create something enjoyable and meaningful for audiences has led to this incredible result. “Tokyo Submarine” is a heartfelt story about two people living in Tokyo. I truly hope you enjoyed it. Again, thank you very much for this honor.