Gunma Next Generation Filmmaker Competition 2025: 10 filmmakers selected from a total of 290 applicants to move on to film production
Vook Inc. Press Release: September 3, 2025 Gunma Next Generation Filmmaker Competition 2025: Ten filmmakers selected from a total of 290 applicants to move on to producing their own films. Started production of short film with 1 million yen in production support Gunma Prefecture and Vook Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shuntaro Okamoto; hereinafter “Vook”) have selected 10 creators to receive 1 million yen in production support from Gunma Prefecture to advance their work in the Gunma Next Generation Video Creator Competition, a short film competition sponsored by Gunma Prefecture with the aim of discovering the next generation of creators in the video field and promoting the appeal of the region. From a total of 290 applicants, various creators with the aspirations of becoming global film directors were selected after a project review process.
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mid-February 2026. At the premiere screening, the Grand Prize winners will be selected by three judges: actor and film director Eiji Okuda, who will serve as chairman of the judging committee; film director, screenwriter, and stage director Masaru Nagahisa; and producer Hiroko Maeda. ◼︎The 10 Selected Creators (in alphabetical order/Creator’s name)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-95f57309f7e821f80522254ba51e48e2-1301×1301.png Selected Creator: Marina Ari Marina Arisato (Marina Arisato) Born in Kanagawa Prefecture / Living in Kanagawa Prefecture / 27 years old Title: “Ubiquitous Blue” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-bbd2bfbac978db5d96fc5d8cf342d1b5-1301×1301.png Selected Creator: Tomoya Kuge Tomoya Kuge (Kuge) Tomoya) Born in Gunma Prefecture / Living in Tokyo / Age 40 Title: “Fate Scissors Girl” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-f9aae8a127f7142de566ba43237ec227-1297×1301.png Selected Creator: Yu Mimotosuga Yu Sanbonsuge (Sanbonsuge Yu) Born in Fukushima Prefecture / Living in Tokyo / Age 40 Title: “Uncles on the Edge” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-fa6eb4f8510c1dc0b2cfc0dfdbb46fde-1306×1301.png Selected Creator: Takanori Tanabe Takanori Tanabe (Tanabe Hiroki) Born in Osaka Prefecture / Living in Tokyo / 29 years old Title: “From the Moonside” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-9e09f0220d2dbca2c0856f1b314bad61-1301×1301.png Selected Creator: Atsushi Nagao Atsushi Nagao (NAGAO Atsushi) Born in Shiga Prefecture / Living in Tokyo / Age 30 Title: “Drifting of the Forgotten” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-dbba6986a5a76dc7df8d1ef4afbbe748-1301×1301.png Selected Creator: Nanase Nakamura Nanase Nakamura (Nakamura Nanase) Born in Hokkaido / Living in Tokyo / Age 33 Title of work: “Unknown” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-70e968d3811ce834a0395a192e4f0f30-1306×1301.png Selected Creator: Peter Clay Peter Clay (Peter Clay) Born in Tokyo / Living in Tokyo / 25 years old Work title “Flicker” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-c50ca1e9d67e3b77add14912ec65feda-1301×1301.png Selected Creator: Yamada Gentoku Yamada Gentoku (Yamada Gentoku) Born in Kanagawa Prefecture / Living in Osaka Prefecture / 32 years old Title: “The Wind-Up Couple” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-fb0c2cec3fb6a475d7e0a13640f6995a-1306×1301.png Selected Creator: Hiroki Yokoyama Yokoyama Hiroki (Yokoyama Hiroki) Born in Gunma Prefecture / Living in the Netherlands / Age 48 Work title “Flowing” (tentative)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/21976/52/21976-52-6e9aae033f13b28b76d906a1156ecb09-1301×1301.png Selected Creator: Aoi Yoshimura Aoi Yoshimura (Yoshimura Aoi) Born in Kochi Prefecture / Living in Tokyo / 28 years old Title of work: “Memory” (tentative) ◼︎Competition Overview Title Gunma Next Generation Filmmaker Competition “Gunma Next Generation Filmmaker Competition 2025” Competition Overview This is a competition for “short films” shot or set in Gunma Prefecture. Short films must meet the following criteria: (1) A short film (※2) with a story and approximately 10 minutes (※1). (2) The film must incorporate the essence (※3) of Gunma Prefecture’s attractions and be filmed within Gunma Prefecture. (3) The theme can be freely chosen. ※1: The approximate length is 10 minutes. The minimum length is 3 minutes, and the maximum is 20 minutes. *2: Characters appear and there is a story. *3: There is freedom in how you interpret the appeal of Gunma Prefecture and how you reflect it in the work. It should not be a simple promotional video for tourism in Gunma Prefecture. In addition, all filming must take place within Gunma Prefecture. Judging and Selection 1. Project Judging: Based on the submission guidelines, short film proposals will be judged and 10 creators will be selected. 2. Work Review: The 10 teams that pass the planning review will be required to create their work by the end of January 2026. Production funds 1 million yen (tax included) / group Production Main story (3-20 minutes)/Trailer Grand Prize Announcement Mid-February 2026 (planned) (at the preview venue) Website https://gngfc2025.pref.gunma.jp/ *Please check the official website for details Overview of Vook Inc. With the vision of “Making video creators invincible,” Vook is an impact startup that supports video creators. Centered around Vook, Japan’s largest media platform specializing in video production, the company operates education, career, and video utilization support businesses. By supporting video creators, the company strives to bring about change in the video industry and create an environment in which video creators can thrive. Representative: Representative Director Shuntaro Okamoto Address: 5-2-33-1111 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Establishment: January 2012 Business overview: ・Management of Japan’s largest video production tips site “Vook (https://vook.vc/)” – Operation of “Vook School (https://school.vook.vc/),” a training service for video creators. – Operation of “Vook Career
(https://career.vook.vc/),” a recruitment service for video creators. automatically, so please do not reply.