SSFF & ASIA
In 1999, actor Tetsuya Bessho, member of the Screen Actors Guild of America (SAG), has worked to
introduce the then new genre, "short films," which he first encountered in the United States, to film fans in
Japan as the American Short Shorts Film Festival.
In 2001, the festival was renamed the Short Shorts Film Festival.
In 2004, SSFF was recognized as an Academy Award® accredited film festival.
In the same year, with the aim of promoting new visual culture from ASIA and nurturing up-and-coming young
filmmakers, the Short Shorts Film Festival ASIA (SSFF ASIA, co-sponsored by Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
was established and the festival is now known collectively as SSFF & ASIA.
To commemorate the festival's 20th anniversary in 2018, the Grand Prix film was named the "George Lucas
Award" in honor of director George Lucas.
In January 2019, the Short Shorts Film Festival in Hollywood was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
festival. Beginning with the 2019 festival, in addition to the Official Competitions (International, ASIA
International, and Japan), the Non-Fiction Competition and this year, the Animation Competition Best Short
Award winners have also become eligible for nomination at the Academy Awards the following year.
SSFF & ASIA will continue to support young creators through the festival.