This Japan born, Academy Awards® accredited festival is one of the largest film festivals in Asia. The festival was started by actor Tetsuya Bessho, a native of Japan and SAG member, as he wanted to introduce Japanese audiences to short films, which were a format that many people in Japan were unfamiliar with. The first festival was held in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo in 1999, and 6 short films made by George Lucas, known best for the “Star Wars” franchise, when he was a student were screened. Since then we have received an annual letter of support from the director.

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In 2001 the festival became known officially as Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF), and in 2004 was accredited as a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards ®. This means that the winner of the festival Grand Prix is eligible to be nominated in one of the short film categories of the Academy Awards ® the following year, offering a bridge between Japan and the Oscars so that young talents may realize their dreams.

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Furthermore, Short Shorts Film Festival Asia (SSFF ASIA) was established with support from Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2004, to introduce new Asian video culture and nurture young filmmaking talents from the region. To this day, the two festivals are held together as Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. Aside from the 3 Official Competitions, there are categories and programs compiled around “music,” “environment” and “CG animation” related shorts.

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Title (Original): born, bone, boon

Director: Gori2                                                        

Year: 2016

Running Time: 0:25:00

Genre: Comedy

Synopsis: A dysfunctional family reunites for the traditional "bone washing ceremony" on Aguni Island. The family face themselves and are able to begin the healing process.  

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Title (Original): SIREN

Director: Nobuyuki Miyake

Year: 2017

Running Time: 0:16:36

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: With sirens blaring outside, Abbas breaks into the room of an old Japanese man named Toyoshige. He lifts Toyoshige onto his back & carries him out the door.  As they descend the stairs the last few days of bias & misjudgment become clear. 

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Title (Original): April fish

Director: Kazutomo Ogata & Eiichi Takahashi

Year: 2016

Running Time: 0:20:34

Genre: Comedy

Synopsis: Kazuya's 27th birthday. He and his girlfriend had planned to spend his birthday together but she has to go on a business trip. Alone, he decides to call for a call girl as a present for himself but a colleague from work makes an unexpected visit to help him celebrate...

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Title (Original): TOKYO ONDO -BEATS AND TEMPERATURES

Director:Shuichi Bamba

Year: 2016

Running Time: 0:03:37

Genre: Fiction, Video Art

Synopsis: The passion & heat of Tokyo depicted by 4 girls as you've never seen before. The girls perform & synchronize to the rhythms & beats of "Neo Tokyo-Ondo."

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Title (Original): Pacalien

Director: Toshiko Hata

Year: 2017

Running Time: 0:10:41

Genre: Animation

Synopsis: Romeros is an alien investigor who looks like an alpaca. When he lands on Earth, he finds his spaceship damaged and becomes disconnected with his planet. He arrives on a mountain where people wearing weird masks are waiting for him. 

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Title (Original): MITOKOMON Z

Director: Showgo Ookawa

Year: 2017

Running Time: 0:25:00

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: A rumour is spreading around this town and Mito Komon and his Samurai followers set about trying to discover the truth. Meanwhile, Sukesaburo encouters a melancholy girl and falls in love with her. Will they discover the truth? and will Sukesaburo succed in love?