Nippon Connection - Japanese Film Festival
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Nippon Connection surveys Japanese cinema across fiction, documentary, animation and experimental work, from short films to features. Its programme includes the Nippon Cinema, Nippon Visions, Nippon Docs, Nippon Animation, Nippon Retro and Nippon Kids sections, alongside Nippon Culture events such as workshops, lectures, performances and concerts. The festival dates back to 2000 and is organised mainly by volunteers through the non-profit Nippon Connection e.V.
The 27th edition dates are 8–13 June 2027 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Venues include Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm, Produktionshaus NAXOS and DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum. The selection accepts work produced or shot in Japan, or directed by Japanese filmmakers.
Country
Germany
Categories
Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Music Video, Short, Television
Dates
8 June 2027 — 13 June 2027
Awards and prizes
The 2027 competitions include the audience-voted Nippon Cinema Award (€4,000), Nippon Visions Audience Award (€2,000) and Nippon Docs Award (€2,000). An international jury selects the Nippon Visions Jury Award, which provides English subtitling for the director’s next eligible film, and the Nippon Storytelling Award (€1,000) for a screenplay in Nippon Visions. A separate international jury selects the Nippon Animation Shorts Award (€2,000).
Festival rules
For the 2027 edition, submissions are free and close on 15 February 2027. Films of any length and genre, including music videos and TV series, are eligible if completed in 2025–2027 and produced or shot in Japan, or directed by a Japanese filmmaker. English or German subtitles or dubbing are required. Accepted screening formats are DCP, Blu-ray and MP4. The programme committee selects films; selection does not automatically mean competition participation. Individual competitions have additional premiere, length and production-year requirements.
Contacts
- nipponconnection.com
- info@nipponconnection.com — General festival enquiries and professional contact