Since its start in 1999, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & Asia) has become the largest festival of its kind in Asia. This year, it is presenting a hybrid edition, with online venues showing films beginning on April 27 and the festival proper held June 11-21 at venues across Tokyo.
In addition to the core competition sections — International (films from outside Japan and Asia), Asia International and Japan — the festival will present shorts of a variety of genres on a range of platforms, including CG animation, nonfiction and smartphone films, as well as sections of shorts themed on Tokyo; made by directors aged 25 and under; and shot in a vertical format (think a standard rectangular cinema screen turned upright).
There will also be 11 special programs grouped according to theme (diversity, sports and kids among them), an online seminar on film soundtracks and other events. Physical screening attendees in Tokyo can also enjoy post-screening talks with filmmakers.