Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026 Screening in Autumn Unveils Lineup Featuring Oscar® Contenders, AI Showcase, and Cannes Industry Spotlights

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Sep 30, 2026, 08:42 ET

TOKYO, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), one of Asia's largest Academy Award®-qualifying international short film festivals, has officially announced the lineup and ticket sales for its Screening in Autumn. The physical festival will take place in Tokyo from November 5 to 8, followed by a worldwide online edition streaming from November 9 to 22 via the Online Grand Theater on LIFE LOG BOX.

Over 50 Best-of-the-Year Shorts & Oscar® Candidates

Asia's premier Academy Award®-qualifying short film festival announces 50+ award-winning titles, groundbreaking Generative AI programs with key partners including CapCut, and global streaming via the Online Grand Theater this November.

Cannes SFC Spotlight Seminar: Co-hosted with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, this special talk session focuses on connecting shorts with global markets. Florian Fernandez, Head of Cannes Film Festival's SFC | Rendez-vous Industry, will join via video interview to share practical insights on leveraging film festivals for career progression. Five Japanese directors will also pitch their award-winning works alongside trailer presentations.

The autumn event will present over 50 acclaimed short films curated across six themed programs. The official selections are headlined by Speedy! (directed by Jiin Oh), winner of the prestigious Grand Prix / George Lucas Award at SSFF & ASIA 2026. Audiences will also experience category winners across Live Action, Animation, and Non-Fiction, including titles eligible for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards®.

Next-Generation Storytelling: Generative AI Showcase

Highlighting the technological revolution in cinema, SSFF & ASIA partner with tech leaders including CapCut, TYO, and TOPVIEW JAPAN to present special Generative AI programs. Key features include:

CapCut AI Film Program: Exploring cutting-edge visual expressions powered by AI tools.
TOKYO STORIES_season2: Displaying futuristic perspectives of Tokyo through AI-generated shorts by 30 emerging creators.
Industry Panel: Featuring guest speaker Ryuta Miyake (The Complex) on the future of AI narrative filmmaking.

Cannes Spotlight & Global Industry Networking

Co-hosted with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Cannes SFC Spotlight Seminar will feature Florian Fernandez, Head of the Cannes Film Festival's SFC | Rendez-vous Industry, sharing strategies for global festival success. Five award-winning Japanese directors will also pitch their works to global industry attendees. Additionally, physical Market Screenings will showcase top talent selected from the Online Cinema Market.

Special Curated Spotlights

Japan Cultural Expo Program: Exploring traditional lifestyles and sustainable futures through the theme of Japanese nature and culinary culture.
Women-Led Films: Presented in partnership with the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), featuring Cannes Critics' Week award-winner Lili Alone by Jing Zou alongside compelling works by female directors worldwide.
Horror & Thriller Program: A curated selection of psychological suspense and dark imagination.

Event Information & Global Access

Tokyo Venues: Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, kino cinéma Shinjuku (Nov 5–8)
Online Streaming Passport: Early bird access is available for US $5 (Sept 29 – Nov 8 JST) and US $8 regular rate (Nov 9 – Nov 22 JST).
Website: https://shortshorts.org/2026autumn/en/

Media Contact
Fuyumi Tanaka
[email protected]
0354748201

SOURCE Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia