BRANDED SHORTS, the specialized branded movie project of the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a groundbreaking new event: "Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS."
Taking place from September 28 to 29, 2026, at the Akasaka Intercity Conference, this inaugural expo will bridge the gap between the video utilization and cutting-edge technology. Attendees can look forward to seminars and booth exhibitions highlighting the latest branding and marketing trends.
The event will wrap up with an star-studded award ceremony on September 29, crowning the "Branded Shorts of the Year" along with the top prizes for HR videos, personal branding, and tourism.
The Best in Travel: 15th Tourism Video Award Finalists Revealed
Ahead of the expo, the festival has unveiled the five finalists for the 15th Tourism Video Award (Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency Award).
Established in 2012 to honor promotional videos that excel in creativity, regional promotion, and public buzz, this year's finalists were narrowed down from a massive pool of 654 submissions!
Here are the 5 beautiful regions and films competing for the grand prize:
● "INSIDE A PHOTO" – Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture
● "Living in This Town" (Kurashi Ikizuku Kono Machi ni) – Hida City, Gifu Prefecture
● "Cool Stay Kushiro" – Kushiro City, Hokkaido
● "Shokubou Hitohito ~The Temperature of Life Colored by Seinosuke Kumakura~" – Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
● "Fukufuku no Chizu" (Fukushima Comprehensive Information Magazine "Fukushima Map" Brand Movie) – Fukushima Prefecture.
- Location: Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture
- Length: 9 minutes, 7 seconds
- Story: An Italian photographer living in Tokyo sees a mysterious photograph. He falls in love with it and travels to Susaki City to capture the same view through his own lens. He enjoys the scenic local views and meets warm-hearted residents. He soon realizes that the true charm of Susaki is the kindness of its people.
- Location: Hida City, Gifu Prefecture
- Length: 7 minutes, 40 seconds
- Story: Built around the concept "Everyone's Hometown," this documentary captures the true spirit of Hida City. It avoids heavy production and focuses on real daily life, local festivals, and people living in harmony with nature. Filmed over a full year, it quietly highlights the simple, beautiful rhythm of changing seasons.
- Location: Kushiro City, Hokkaido
- Length: 4 minutes, 38 seconds
- Story: Kushiro offers a refreshing escape with a cool average summer temperature of 18.5°C (65°F). This video introduces "Cool Stay Kushiro" as a new summer lifestyle choice to escape extreme heat and work stress.
- Location: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
- Runtime: 00:17:48
- The Story:
"Shokubou"—the weaving of food—is the art of honoring a region's local wildlife and bridging human emotions. Nestled in the historic Iwamuro Hot Springs district of Nishikan Ward, Niigata City, stands the restaurant Akari no Shokutei KOKAJIYA. Here, Chef Kumakura acts as both culinary master and hunter, heading into the wilderness rifle in hand to confront the raw weight of life. With meticulously honed skills, he transforms this baton of nature's life into exquisite, world-class dishes. The harmony of nature, the chef's artistry, and the diner's joy weave together like a single thread, infusing the freezing winter air with the literal "warmth of life."
- Location: Fukushima Prefecture
- Runtime: 00:10:53
- The Story:
Sophie, a French philosopher, touches down in Fukushima for very first time to attend a friend's wedding. Alone in an unfamiliar land without knowing the language, she accidentally loses her map. However, guided by a mysterious new "friend" and a whimsical alternative map, she embarks on an unexpected journey. Through spontaneous detours and heartwarming encounters, she immerses herself in the rich traditions passed down through generations of local hands, ultimately discovering the perfect, heartfelt message to gift her friend on their wedding day.
Can't make it to Tokyo? The expo is offering an extended online viewing window so film and marketing enthusiasts worldwide can join in on the action.
Venue: Akasaka Intercity Conference (Akasaka Intercity Air 4F), Tokyo
Online expo: September 28 – November 30, 2026 (Tentative) on https://expo.brandedshorts.jp/
REPORT: INSTYLEASIA
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