Submission period

Deadline for Animated Short Film Competition Entry has passed. Thank you for your Submission! Notification of the selection results will be announced in the end of August 2023.

From April 24th to June 30th, 2023

Submission requirements

Entrants are asked to carefully read and agree to the terms and conditions of the Submission Regulations for Animated Short Film Competition before submitting works.

Submission requirements

(1) Submissions must be animated films with a run time not exceeding 30 minutes, including end credits (all animation techniques acceptable). 360°/VR works are also accepted.

(2) Films must be completed in or after 2021.

(3) Films with languages other than Japanese or English must have English subtitles at the time of submission. For films with Japanese, English subtitles must be provided if they pass the primary selection.

(4) The director or the producer of the film or the entrant must hold the right to screen the film submitted, and all rights to screen the work during the festival must have been secured.

(5) Entrants must obtain permission from rights holders for the music, existing characters and all other elements used in their films before submission. The festival office assumes no responsibility for copyright violations, compensation for damage or other claims from third parties.

(6) Films that have previously been submitted to the past editions of the festival will not be accepted.

Multiple submissions from the same entrant are accepted as long as the above conditions are satisfied for each one.

［Regulations for Animated Short Film Competition [ENGLISH] （PDF）］

Competition categories

The festival features the following four categories for the animated short film competition. Submissions will be sorted into the relevant category based on judgment by the Festival Office and Selection Committee members.

(A) International Competition
(B) Japan Competition
(C) Music Animation Competition
(D) Student Competition

Awards

The festival will elect International Jury members to judge the “International Competition,” “Japan Competition,” and “Student Competition” in the Short Film categories. The International Jury may present the following awards as a result of deliberation during the festival.

Award	Competition	Prize money/extra prizes
Grand Prix	International Competition	1 million JPY
New Talent Award	International Competition	200,000 JPY
Japan Grand Prix	Japan competition and Japanese films in the International Competition	500,000 JPY
Best Student Film	Student films in the International, Japan, and Student Competition	memento

The Audience Award is decided through an audience voting system.

Award	Competition	Prize money/extra prizes
Audience Award	All Films screened in theaters	100,000 JPY

Kid’s Jury will select The Kids Award from among the films shown in the Family Program in the International Competition.

Award	Competition	Prize money/extra prizes
Kids Award	Family Program within the International Competition	memento

The festival will appoint Music Animation Special Jury members to judge the “Music Animation Competition” in the Short Film categories. The Special Jury may present the following award.

Award	Competition	Prize money/extra prizes
Best Music Animation Award	Music Animation Competition	100,000 JPY

The festival office may establish other awards decided by different criteria.

Invitations

The festival office will invite a filmmaker or a producer who satisfy certain conditions by covering related costs as described below. The detail is notified of the details by email after the selection.
*Please note that depending on the spread of COVID-19, invitation conditions may be changed or may be canceled.

1. International Competition, Japan Competition and Music Animation Competition

Conditions for invitation

Must be one of the following:

(1) A director or producer whose work has been selected for the International Competition or the Japan Competition and is able to attend the Award Ceremony to be held during the festival period (one person per film. We will announce the ceremony date in the notification of the results of the primary selection.).
Please note that it is compulsory to attend a talk session on any program held during your visit (ex. "Meet the Filmmakers").

(2) A director or producer whose work has been selected for the Music Animation Competition and is able to attend the screening program with the Award Ceremony during the festival period. (schedule TBA; one person per film)

Even if the film is nominated in more than one category, only one person is invited.

If the condition is fulfilled, the festival will cover

(1) Part of round-trip flight costs (as par the Festival Office regulations)

(2) Accommodation during the festival period (applicable only to hotels arranged by the Festival Office and only for one person)

(3) Part of meals during the festival (by meal coupon, as par with Festival Office regulations)

2. Student Competition

Conditions for invitation

A director or producer whose work has been selected for the Student Competition and is able to attend the Award Ceremony to be held during the festival period (one person per film. We will announce the ceremony date in the notification of the results of the primary selection.).
Please note that it is compulsory to attend a talk session on any program held during your visit (ex. "Meet the Filmmakers").

Even if the film is nominated in more than one category, only one person is invited.

If the condition is fulfilled, the festival will cover

(1) Accommodation during the festival period (applicable only to hotels arranged by the Festival Office and only for one person)

(2) Part of meals during the festival (by meal coupon, as par with Festival Office regulations)

Submission methods

Deadline for Animated Short Film Competition Entry has passed. Thank you for your Submission! Notification of the selection results will be announced in the end of August 2023.

The email address shown below can be used to request further information or ask questions about submissions.

entry@airport-anifes.jp