SKIP CITY KINETEC International Film Festival (SKIPシティ キネテク国際映画祭)

SKIP CITY KINETEC International Film Festival

SKIPシティ キネテク国際映画祭

Also known as: SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL, SKIPシティ国際Dシネマ映画祭
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SKIP CITY KINETEC International Film Festival focuses on the meeting of cinema and new visual technologies in Kawaguchi, Japan. Its Cinema competition divides traditional filmmaking into feature and short categories, while NEXT accepts forms such as AI-generated video, music videos, experimental work and game-engine animation. Entries come from Japan and abroad and must explain how technology contributes to their expression or production.

The festival traces its origins to the SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL, established in 2004 to support emerging filmmakers. It combines competition screenings with interactive technology exhibitions and business exchanges. Saitama Prefecture, Kawaguchi City, the Kawaguchi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the festival executive committee organize the event. The festival dates are 31 January–7 February 2027, at SKIP CITY Sai-no-Kuni Visual Plaza and other venues.

Country

Japan

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Music Video, Short, Web and New Media

Dates

31 January 2027 — 7 February 2027

Awards and prizes

2027 competition: the Feature Length Grand Prize carries JPY 500,000; Short Length Grand Prize JPY 300,000; NEXT Grand Prize JPY 200,000. Each category also has an Audience Award with local prefectural products. The SKIP CITY Award offers 100 hours of production/planning support and is open to Japanese films across the feature and short categories. Prizes are generally awarded to directors.

Festival rules

2027 competition: entries are closed. The submission period is 1 July–31 August 2026, with online entry closing at 12:00 noon JST on 31 August. Submission is free. All countries of production are eligible. Works must be completed on or after 1 July 2025 and creatively incorporate new visual technology; applicants must identify its use in the entry form. Cinema: features are 60 minutes or longer and shorts under 60 minutes; directors, including every co-director, must have no more than four commercially released feature films. NEXT has no runtime or genre restrictions. All works must play on a standard cinema screen; VR headsets and multi-monitor installations are ineligible. Submit an online entry form and streaming screener, with Japanese or English subtitles if the work is in neither language. Applicants must clear all rights. Selection results are notified by the end of December 2026. Nominated works require digital screening materials, a dialogue script and publicity materials; nominated entries cannot be withdrawn. Full regulations and submission guidance are available on the official website.

Contacts

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