The New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival (Japan) is accepting animated short films until June 30 2023, and animated feature films until July 31, 2023.

About the festival:
The New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival is an animation festival dedicated to animated films held at the terminal building of New Chitose Airport (Hokkaido, Japan), which connects Hokkaido with the rest of the world.

The festival not only attracts attention as one of the few film festivals in the world where all screenings, lodgings, and stays are completed at the airport but also boasts the largest number of entries in the competition section in Japan. The festival also offers a multifaceted program introducing animation, including lectures by Japanese and foreign creators and exhibitions in public spaces. It has now grown into one of Japan’s top animation film festivals.

Eligibility:
– Films submitted must be animated films.
– Short Films should not exceed the 30-minute mark. And Feature Films must have more than 40 minutes.
– Films must have been produced after January 1, 2021.
– 360/VR Works are accepted for submission.
– 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.
– 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.
– 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.
– Films that have previously been submitted to the past editions of the festival will not be accepted.
– Submission Fee: FREE
– Deadlines:
* Short Films – June 30, 2023
* Feature Films – July 20, 2023
– Notification Date: September 30, 2023

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://airport-anifes.jp/en/competition/short/

To submit to the festival please visit: https://filmfreeway.com/NewChitoseAirportInternationalAnimationFestival

We remind readers that the 10th New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival will take place from November 2 – 6, 2023 in New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido, Japan.

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.

The Tokyo International Film Festival (Japan) is accepting feature films until July 14, 2023.

About the festival:
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), the only Japanese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). TIFF started in 1985 as Japan’s first major film festival. Since then, it has grown to become one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. TIFF seeks out excellent films from around the world and brings them to Tokyo, where filmmakers and film fans can enjoy them, meet emerging filmmakers, and be inspired.

Eligibility:
– Must be films (feature or documentary) completed after January 1st, 2023.
– Must be at least its Japan Premieres at TIFF. World and International Premieres are given priority. Japanese films must be their World Premieres at TIFF.
– Films that are available on the Internet, TV (including IPTV) or in-flight movies, and films commercially released on DVD, VOD, or any other format are not eligible.
– Films must be feature films running over 60 minutes.
– Short films are not eligible.
– Screening material should be in digital format in high-definition format, with English subtitles.
– Should not have been screened at main competition sections of “competitive feature film festivals (non-specialized)” accredited by the FIAPF prior to TIFF.
– Submissions must be done via the festival’s website.
– TIFF will invite the director(s) and the lead actor/actress of selected film for Competition Section.
– Submission Fee: FREE until May 21, 2023 | Then 4,000 JPY
– Deadline: July 14, 2023
– Notification Date: mid-September 2023

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://www.tiff-jp.net/entry/competition2023/index_en.html

To submit to the festival please visit: https://entry.tiff-jp.net/regist/data_input.php?lang=en

We remind readers that the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival will take place from October 23 – November 1, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.

The Tokyo FILMex International Film Festival (Japan) is accepting films for the Special Screening Section until June 30, and for the Competition until July 15, 2023.

About the festival:

TOKYO FILMeX 2023 (the Festival) will present the Japanese audience with unique and creative cinema from Asia and the world. Supporting those undertaking the challenge of new cinema, the festival will provide filmmakers and guests with opportunities for constructive exchange with Japanese film industry professionals and the local audience.

TOKYO FILMeX Competition
– Only for films by emerging Asian directors.
– Films should be 60 minutes or more in length.
– Films must be completed after April 1, 2022.
– Films must be Japan Premiere.
– All films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English.
– Film formats and video systems that can be presented during the Festival are: DCP, Apple ProRes, 35mm, HDCAM, HDCAM-SR, Betacam SP, Digital Betacam, Dvcam.
– Submission Fee: FREE
– Deadline: July 15, 2023

Special Screening Section
– Accepts films from around the world which represent the trend in independent filmmaking today.
– Films should be 60 minutes or more in length.
– Films must be completed after April 1, 2022.
– Films must be Japan Premiere.
– All films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English.
– Film formats and video systems that can be presented during the Festival are: DCP, Apple ProRes, 35mm, HDCAM, HDCAM-SR, Betacam SP, Digital Betacam, Dvcam.
– Submission Fee: FREE
– Deadline: June 30th, 2023

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://filmex.jp/entry/2023/ww/FILMeX2023-Regulation_en.pdf

To submit to the festival please go here: https://filmex.jp/entry/2023/ww/

We remind readers that the Tokyo FILMex International Film Festival will take place on November 2023 (Dates TBA) in Tokyo, Japan.

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.

Dear Professionals, the TIFFCOM is accepting applications from exhibitors until May 31, 2023. Don’t waste your time, be part of the leading content market in Asia.

About the festival:
TIFFCOM, the leading content market in Asia is affiliated with Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), the sole international film festival in Japan accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Association.

To date, TIFFCOM has been successfully held 19 times. Featuring a variety of content holders from film, TV, animation etc., the market has been drawing in much interest from influential buyers within Asia and beyond. Each year the number of exhibitors, business negotiations, and the total number of contracts have steadily increased reaching a record high last year, making TIFFCOM the most valued and leading content market to represent Asia.

In recent years, there has also been a rise in the number of exhibit booths that not only handle the sale of completed content but negotiate business opportunities on IP (Intellectual Property) rights and book adaptations. By boosting the number of meetings related to film, animation, game, and other audio-visual contents, TIFFCOM as the marketplace leveraging businesses on visual entertainments will continue to grow and bring more achievements.

Exhibitor Application
Content/Service Category Covered
Film, TV, Animation, Mobile/Internet (OTT, VOD), Home Entertainment (DVD, Blu-ray), Inflight Entertainment, New Media (CG/Digital/VR/AR), Original Story (Novels/Comics)/Book Adaptation/Remake, Character, IP (Intellectual Property), Game, Toy, Event/Concert, Music, Post Production/Translations, Local Culture/Region/Tourism, etc

Exhibiting Options
Multiple booth design packages are provided to respond to each exhibitor’s needs.

To see more information please visit: https://tiffcom.site/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/tiffcom_2023_exhibiting_options_en.pdf

Exhibitor Application Deadline:
– Early Bird Deadline: May 31 (Wed.), 2023
– Final Deadline: July 31 (Mon.), 2023
*Applications will no longer be accepted as soon as available booths become full even before the deadlines.
*Handling Fee of 10,000 JPY may be added to overseas exhibitors (if a payment will be made by international bank transfer).

You can apply to the TIFFCOM here: https://tiffcom.site/2023/registration/exhibitor/

For more information about the TIFFCOM please visit: https://tiffcom.jp/en

We remind readers that the 20th TIFFCOM will take place from October 25 – 27, 2023 in the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center HAMAMATSUCHO-KAN in Tokyo, Japan.

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.

The TokyoDocs (Japan) is accepting documentary feature-length projects in Pre-Production stage until June 23, 2023.

About the Tokyo Docs
Tokyo Docs is an international event designed to support the overseas expansion of documentaries, including international co-productions. It allows Japanese and Asian documentary filmmakers to network with decision makers from Japan and abroad to help secure funding for Japanese and Asian documentaries’ production and support their broadcast, distribution, screening, and sales overseas.

Scope of Entries
Accepts proposals for new documentaries aiming for international co-production. As a basic rule, proposed projects should be at a pre-production stage. Still, it is also possible to submit projects that combine new material with footage already broadcasted domestically in the filmmakers’ own country or a rework of such films. * Entries consisting of completed films or the sale of format rights will not be accepted.

Topics
Entries of one-off films or series on any valid topic are accepted, including current affairs, social issues, history, natural science, and travelogue. However, travelogues for tourism promotion are not submitted.

Eligibility
– Producers or individuals affiliated with a film production company.
– In principle, producers residing in Japan and other Asian countries or producers who propose projects related to Japan and other Asian countries are eligible. If applying as a private individual, please attach a history of your previous works.
– Producers affiliated with a broadcasting company should, in principle, apply in cooperation with their production company.

Application Method
– To submit your project, fill out the online application form with required details.
– Applications by email or post will NOT be accepted.
– Entries without all of the necessary information, entries exceeding the word count, and entries without the required photographic data will also not be accepted.
– Please submit your entry in Japanese, English, or both Japanese and English.

Deadline
June 23, 2023 (13:00 Japan Time)

Selection
The Selection Committee will select the following number of projects and notify each applicant in early July.
Main Pitch: About 20 projects (including around five projects submitted from outside Japan and about five Colors of Asia scheme projects).
*Trailers of the selected projects will be available on the Tokyo Docs online page during the exhibition period. The videos will be open to the public on a limited basis, but we kindly request that the rights be processed for online viewing.

Selection Criteria
The Selection Committee, consisting of Tokyo Docs Executing Committee members, will make the selections after conferring with overseas producers. The most important criterion is “a high-quality documentary that deserves international distribution.” Selectors will also consider whether the documentary is “a project appropriate for realization through international co-production.”

International Decision Makers
About 20 people from Europe, North America, and Asia are expected to participate, including producers from broadcasters with rights to adopt programs, producers from video distributors, producers from foundations that invest in projects, and producers from distributors that promote documentary works internationally.

Trailer
The selected filmmakers will be requested to create a “trailer” before the event. It should be a 3-minute video explaining what your project is about. After the selection process, you will work with your Tokyo Docs tutor to refine the content of your video.

Road Map Following the Selection
Late July: Online orientation by international tutors
Mid-September: 3-day Master Class Camp:
  1) Learn how to edit a trailer and write a 2-page project outline.
  2) Learn the skills needed for international co-production, such as film construction, terminology, and budget-building.
Mid-October: Last-minute pitch training by international tutors

Development Funding
Tokyo Docs will provide the producers of the selected Japanese projects with a reserve fund for trailer production. In addition, for those projects that the decision makers highly evaluate, a development fee will be provided for international development. The total amount of all funding is 5.6 million yen.

Registration Fees
There is no application charge. However, selected projects are required to pay 50,000 yen per project for registration and attending the Master Class Camp.

To read more about the Rules & Regulations and fill the Entry Form please follow the next link: https://tokyodocs.jp/en/how-to-apply

We remind readers that the 13th Tokyo Docs will take place from October 30 until November 1, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.

To see other Call for Entries please follow the next link: “Call for Entries”.

We present a list of ten film festivals with open calls that will end next month. Hurry up! Don’t waste your time!

Although this list was intended for our Asian audience, filmmakers from other regions can benefit too. If you like our website don’t forget to follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM.

22nd Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Date: June 30 – July 8, 2023
Place: Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Deadline: April 7th, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: Short Films (<25 minutes)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

18th Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
Date: October 5th – 12th, 2023
Place: Yamagata, Japan
Deadline: April 15th, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: International Competition (completed after November 1, 2022)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

18th Sapporo International Short Film Festival & Market
Date: October 6th – 9th, 2023
Place: Sapporo, Japan
Deadline: April 16th, 2023
Entry Fee: $ 15 – 35 USD (Depending on the category and deadline)
Category: International Short Films (Under 30 minutes)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

28th Aichi International Women’s Film Festival
Date: September 15th – 18th, 2023
Place: Aichi, Japan
Deadline: April 22nd, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: Short Films (under 50 minutes)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

11th FilmFestival Kitzbuehel
Date: August 21st – 27th, 2023
Place: Vienna, Austria
Deadline: April 24, 2023
Entry Fee: $ 50 – 107 USD (Depending on the category and deadline)
Category: Short and Feature Films
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

15th DMZ DOCS International Documentary Film Festival
Date: September 14 – 21, 2023
Place: Goyang City and Paju City, Korea
Deadline: April 26th, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: International Feature Documentaries
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

22nd Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Date: June 30th – July 8th, 2023
Place: Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Deadline: April 28, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: Feature Films (<25 minutes)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

11th Seoul International Children’s Film Festival
Date: September 13th – 20th, 2023
Place: Seoul, Korea
Deadline: April 28th, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: Short and Feature Films
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

9th Minikino Film Week
Date: September 15th – 23rd, 2023
Place: Bali, Indonesia
Deadline: April 30th, 2023
Entry Fee: $ 5 – 9 USD (Depending on the category and deadline)
Category: Short Films (under 15 minutes)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Date: June 29th – July 9th, 2023
Place: Bucheon, Korea
Deadline: April 30th, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: Short and Feature Fantastic Films
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

18th Sapporo International Short Film Festival & Market
Date: October 6th – 9th, 2023
Place: Sapporo, Japan
Deadline: April 30th, 2023
Entry Fee: $ 15 – 35 USD (Depending on the category and deadline)
Category: Japanese Short Films (Under 30 minutes)
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival
Date: August 10th – 15th, 2023
Place: Jecheon, Korea
Deadline: April 30th, 2023
Entry Fee: FREE
Category: Short and Feature Films
—–>Go to the Call For Entry

For more open calls please visit this link: https://asianfilmfestivals.com/call-for-entries/

The Kineko International Children’s Film Festival (Japan) is accepting films until July 10, 2023.

About the festival:
KINEKO International Film Festival was founded in 1992 under its original name “Tokyo Kinder Film Festival” in partnership with the director of the Generation section at Berlinale.

KINEKO is a non-profit film festival and has become the largest film festival for children in Japan. Every November, the festival welcomes over 100,000 visitors to the screenings and other events, and media professionals, international guests and celebrities attend the festival to lead interactive workshops with children.

Eligibility:
– The festival accepts films from any country.
– The festival accepts features, animations, CG, etc. of all genres.
– The festival accepts both feature and short films.
– Productions must have been made after January 1, 2021.
– Films should be produced & suitable for 1-12-year-old children, and 13-18 year old teens.
– English subtitles are required for non-English films.
– Submissions must be done via FilmFreeway.
– Submission Fees and Deadlines:

– Notification Date: September 15, 2023

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://filmfreeway.com/KINEKOInternationalChildrensFilmFestival (This is also the submission link)

We remind readers that the 30th Kineko International Children’s Film Festival will take place from November 1 – 6, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.

To see other Call for Entries please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.

The Aichi International Women’s Film Festival (Japan) is accepting films until April 22, 2023.

About the festival:
The Aichi International Women’s Film Festival has supported the advancement of women in society and promoted international exchange between women since its launch in 1996. They screen films directed by female directors, invite world-famous female directors and rising female directors, and hold guest talks and symposium that provide the participants with opportunities to exchange their views and ideas in order to promote the realization of a gender-equal society.

Sections:
– Animation
– Live Action (Narratives and Documentaries)

Eligibility:
– The director of the film MUST be female.
– All themes are welcome, regardless of age, professional background, or winning award.
– Films must be completed after January 1st, 2022.
– The festival accepts animations and live-action films of all genres including drama and documentary.
– Must be films running less than 50 minutes (including end credits).
– Should not have been broadcasted on Japanese terrestrial television prior to September 18th, 2023.
– For non-Japanese language films, Japanese subtitles or English subtitles are required. Finalists will be also required to submit the script in original-language and in English with time code for Japanese subtitles.
– Film entries must be submitted on DVD-Video (NTSC, region-free, without copy protection).
– Applying with multiple works is acceptable.
– Submissions are done via the festival’s website.
– Submission Fee: FREE
– Deadline: April 22, 2023
– Notification Date: July 2023

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://www.aiwff.com/2023/en/about_aiwff/call_for_entries/

To submit an Animation film please visit: https://forms.gle/wm5Ac4HvGPN3hESZ8
To submit a Live Action film (narrative or documentary) please visit: https://forms.gle/ANQ8iHdhikbmGoPR7

We remind readers that the 28th Aichi International Women’s Film Festival will take place from September 15 – 18, 2023 in Aichi, Japan.

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.

Over My Dead Body (死屍死時四十四) directed by HO Cheuk Tin will open the Osaka Asian Film Festival which will take place from March 10 – 19, 2023 in Osaka, Japan.

Welcome to Seaside Heights, a fancy residential building where a group of residents experience a night of chaos and comedy after the nude body of a man appears and threatens to cause scandal and plunging property values!

It all begins when Ming (WONG You Nam), together with his wife (Jennifer YU), mother-in-law (Teresa MO), and brother-in-law (Alan YEUNG Wai Lun), finds an anonymous naked body lying at their doorstep. Fearing that the presence of a corpse will turn their unit into a “murder home” and its property value will nosedive and impoverish them, their bickering family unite to pass the buck to their neighbours by moving the corpse to other units on the same floor. Their fiendish plot ropes in a motley bunch of people, including retired elderly couple, Mr. & Mrs. CHAN (LAU Kong & Bonnie WONG); a single lady and her maid; the CHEUNG’s, an irascible father (Ronald CHENG) and his cantankerous son (Edan LUI); and an overzealous security guard. Last but not least, is a mysterious chain smoking woman named Sue (Hanna CHAN) who might hold the key to helping get the body out of the building…

A dark comedy of manners and Hong Kong home-ownership woes ensues in “Over My Dead Body” as each of these vividly portrayed characters turns on each other in an effort to avoid taking responsibility for both the body and their own personal problems. (OAFF 2023)

Screening:
March 15, 2023 | Wednesday | ABC Hall | 18:40 pm
March 19, 2023 | Sunday | Umeda Burg 7: Theater 7 | 18:30 pm

About the director:
“Over My Dead Body” is the sophomore feature film from HO Cheuk Tin, an up-and-coming director whose debut film, the courtroom drama “The Sparring Partner” (正義迴廊/2022), has taken Hong Kong by storm, becoming the highest-grossing Category III rated film to date and receiving 16 nominations for the Hong Kong Film Awards 2023 including Best Film, Best Director, Best New Director, and more.

This ensemble comedy features a mixture of veteran acting talents and new stars whose careers are really taking off. Their number includes Teresa MO (毛舜筠), “Mama’s Affair” (阿媽有咗第二個/OAFF 2022) and “Hong Kong Family” (過時·過節/OAFF 2023), Ronald CHENG (鄭中基), “Elisa’s Day” (遺愛/OAFF 2021), WONG You Nam (黃又南), “Wong Ka Yan” (王家欣/OAFF 2016), Jennifer YU (余香凝), “Sisterhood” (骨妹/OAFF 2017) and “Far Far Away” (緣路山旮旯/OAFF 2022), Edan LUI (呂爵安), “Hong Kong Family”, Hanna CHAN (陳漢娜), “Elisa’s Day”, Jer LAU (柳應廷), “Mama’s Affair”, and Alan YEUNG Wai Lun (楊偉倫), who was nominated for Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards 2023 for his role in “The Sparring Partner”.

The film was written by KONG Ho Yan (江皓昕), one of the scriptwriters of “Midnight After” (那夜凌晨，我坐上了旺角開往大埔的紅VAN/2014).

For more information, please visit: https://www.oaff.jp/2023/en/index.html

Note on images used in this post: (C) 2023 One Cool Film Production Limited, 852 Films Limited, Icon Group Limited,. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Al Rights Reserved.

Side by Side directed by Ito Chihiro will close the Osaka Asian Film Festival which will take place from March 10 – 19, 2023 in Osaka, Japan.

MIYAMA (SAKAGUCHI Kentaro) is a mysterious young man with the ability to sense the thoughts of other people. These thoughts sometimes take the form of a spirit that haunts MIYAMA. With this power, he can detect and heal people suffering from physical ailments and emotional traumas. He does this while living a quiet life with his girlfriend Shiori (ICHIKAWA Mikako), a nurse, and her daughter Mimi (ISOMURA Ameri). While locals accept him, the mystery of his background lingers and it all comes out when he confronts the thoughts of KUSAKA (ASAKA Kodai), who was his junior in high school, now working as a musician in Tokyo. MIYAMA’s meeting with KUSAKA reunites him with his ex-girlfriend Riko (SAITO Asuka), a woman who is part of the past that he ran away from. (OAFF 2023)

Trailer:

About the director:
ITO Chihiro began her film career as art department staff in charge of props before she met YUKISADA Isao (行定勲) who invited her to write a screenplay for his film “Seventh Anniversary” (セブンス アニバーサリー/2003). Immediately after her writing debut, she worked on screenplays for a string of live-action films and anime, including mega-hit “Crying Out Love in the Center of the World” (世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ/2004) and OSHII Mamoru’s (押井守) “The Sky Crawlers” (スカイ・クロラ/2008). Recently, she has worked under the pen name HORIZUMI Anne (堀泉杏) on YUKISADA’s films “Narratage” (ナラタージュ/2017) and “The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese” (窮鼠はチーズの夢を見る/2020). In 2022, she debuted as a director with “In Her Room”(ひとりぼっちじゃない). It was produced by YUKISADA Isao and played in the Nippon Cinema Now section at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2022. On top of writing screenplays, she has also written for the stage and also a picture book. “Side by Side” is her second film and was shot in the beautiful landscape of Nagano Prefecture.

For more information, please visit: https://www.oaff.jp/