📣【Announcement】Kaminari JFF 2026 Submissions Are Now Open!
By Yuka Rogers
🎬 The wait is over!
We've finally updated the long-dormant (?) Kaminari Japan Film Festival YouTube channel with a brand-new video!
Check out our highlight video from the 2025 Award Ceremony, featuring this year's official selections, nominees, and winners — plus heartfelt comments from the winning filmmakers.
You can feel the energy of the festival through the screen!
▶️ Watch here: Watch here
(Don’t forget to subscribe!)
And now...
Submissions for Kaminari JFF 2026 are officially open!
👉 https://filmfreeway.com/kaminarijapanfilmfes
This year, we’ve added two brand-new categories to our lineup of fan favorites!
🎥 Mobile Moments
For short films (under 5 minutes) shot on smartphones or tablets.
We welcome raw, emotional, and creative moments captured using everyday tools!
🌟 Debut Feature Award
A special category dedicated to first-time feature filmmakers.
A chance for emerging directors to shine on the global stage!
And of course, our most popular and exciting categories are back:
✔ Anything Goes (aka Surprise Us!)
✔ Eraserhead – Horror category
✔ Music Video
✔ Narrative & Documentary (Short + Feature)
🎯 The earlier you submit, the lower the fee — so don’t wait!
Also, our limited-edition official Kaminari JFF T-shirts, available only at the award ceremony, were a huge hit!
New designs will be coming for 2026 – stay tuned.
🎬 Now it's your time to shine.
Share your film with the world – we can’t wait to see what you create!
Submit now on FilmFreeway:
👉 https://filmfreeway.com/kaminarijapanfilmfes
Kaminari JFF is a sister festival of the Japan Indies Film Festival and the Raindance Film Festival in London.
