Kitakyushu International Film Festival 2027 Short Film Competition
Applicant criteria
- NationalityNo specific nationality required
- AgeNo specific age required
- GenderBoth
Opportunity criteria
- Opportunity FieldPhotography and Filmmaking , Others
- Job locationJapan
- Deadline2026-11-30
Opportunity description
The Kitakyushu International Film Festival (KIFF) invites filmmakers from around the world to participate in the second edition of the Sunflower Short Films International Competition, an international short film competition held as part of the fourth edition of the festival in Kitakyushu, Japan, from March 12 to 14, 2027.
The competition aims to discover and support emerging filmmaking talent and give filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work before an international audience and jury in one of Japan’s cities associated with the film industry. The competition accepts short films from all genres, provided they meet the requirements related to film length, production date, and Japanese premiere status.
Awards
Three main awards will be presented:
Golden Sunflower Award – Grand Prix: Best Short Film Award.
Silver Sunflower Award: Runner-up Award.
Audience Award: Audience Choice Award.
Approximately 10 films are expected to be selected for the official competition and screened during the festival in Japan.
Benefits
One director from each selected film will receive an attendance support package for travel to Japan, including:
Free hotel accommodation from March 11 to 14, 2027.
An official invitation to attend the festival in Kitakyushu.
Participation in the opening ceremony and red carpet event.
Financial support to help cover travel expenses to Japan.
According to FilmFreeway, travel support is provided based on the participant’s region of departure as follows:
Within Japan: actual transportation expenses of up to JPY 30,000.
South Korea, Taiwan, and China: JPY 50,000.
Southeast Asia, Oceania, Europe, North America, and Africa: JPY 100,000.
South America and other regions: JPY 200,000.
Eligibility criteria
The competition is open to filmmakers from around the world.
Short films from all genres are accepted.
The film, including end credits, must be between 5 and 25 minutes in length.
The film must be eligible for a Japan Premiere.
The film must not have been publicly screened in Japan before, whether at a festival, cinema, or through television broadcast.
Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
Applicants may submit more than one film, but a separate application and entry fee are required for each submission.
Works in progress may be submitted, but the version submitted will be the one evaluated, and replacing it later may not be permitted.
Applicants must hold all necessary rights to the music, images, and other content used in the film.
Application Timeline
Applications open: September 1, 2026
Regular deadline: October 30, 2026
Final deadline: November 30, 2026
Selection announcements: approximately January 2027
Festival dates: March 12–14, 2027, in Kitakyushu, Japan