[Nara International Film Festival] – Connecting film to the future, the “Nara International Film Festival for Youth 2025” concludes – Three projects developed by the youth generation: “Create, View, and Manage”
Nara International Film Festival Press Release: September 26, 2025 – Connecting film to the future, the “Nara International Film Festival for Youth 2025” concludes – Three projects developed by the youth generation: “Create, View, and Manage” Next year’s 2026 event dates announced, hometown tax donations now being accepted The Nara International Film Festival (NPO) (Location: Nara City, Nara Prefecture; Chairperson: Kawase Naomi) held the “Nara International Film Festival for YOUTH 2025,” a film festival created primarily by teenagers, from September 21st (Sun) to 23rd (Tue, national holiday), 2025. This youth-led festival tackled three programs: “Creating,” “Watching,” and “Organizing.” In addition, the festival screened films recommended by the Berlin International Film Festival, including Japan premieres, and award-winning works from the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. This year, the youth-produced film “En” and the NARAtive Jr. production “Yamanobe Radio” were also screened as special screenings at the “Dialogue Theater: Testament of Life” Signature Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, attracting the attention of many visitors. In 2026, the event is scheduled to be held from Saturday, September 19th to Wednesday, September 23rd (national holiday).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-39c05085da418315fcdb067f31c33e85-3000×2000.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-b40a3a80c287d202c268615a0fce3429-3000×2000.jpg NARAtive.Jr’s third work, “Yamanobe Radio”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-4b2994eeaa81eba81d9fff184fc70e39-3000×2000.jpg (Left) Tetsuya Tokoro, ambassador for the Nara International Film Festival. (Right) New ambassador, Ringo Hiheel. On the first day of the festival, award-winning films from the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) were shown, including “Peek-a-Boo!” The festival featured five films: “Behind the Bars,” “Ikigai,” “Varya’s Adventure,” and “Ripped Pantyhose,” as well as “Village Rockstars 2,” which was selected from the Berlin International Film Festival’s “Generation” section. The festival also featured the world premiere of “Yamanobe Radio,” the third short film from the “NARAtive Jr.” project, which recruits, selects, and produces short film directors for young people aged 18 to 24. The opening ceremony and stage greetings were attended by the cast, as well as newly appointed Nara International Film Festival ambassador Hiheel Ringo, SSFF & ASIA Representative/Nara International Film Festival Ambassador Bessho Tetsuya, and SSFF & ASIA Festival Director Takekasa Sachiko. “Yamanobe Radio” A human drama connected by newspaper delivery Director: Yorinori Komatsu | 27 minutes | 2025 | Japan Starring: Kennosuke Yamamura, Kenjiro Kawashiro, Odoro Nakamura, DOZAN11 / Kakuei Shimada / Kana Hashimoto 【Screening at the Osaka Kansai Expo】
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-94a4e579c0c57ab463f8a7bb7ba79acf-3000×2000.jpg “Yamanobe Radio” cast members also appeared on stage
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-e25e88ca7ac51c54e1a432832c1be784-3000×2000.jpg Youth Filmmaking Workshop “En” The Nara International Film Festival’s Youth Filmmaking Project Based on the philosophy of “not treating children like children,” this program is entirely youth-led, with scriptwriting, filming, directing, and editing all handled by the program. This summer, the short films “En” and “Yamanobe Radio” were screened at the Osaka Kansai Expo Signature Pavilion on Monday, September 22nd, followed by a stage greeting at the Dialogue Theater “Akashi of Life.” “En”: A short film created this summer by four people aged 13 to 17. Director and Screenwriter: Inoue Rakusai, Maeo Nayu, Yamada Rino, Nakagoshi Kikuo 13 minutes | 2025 | Japan [Crystal SHIKA Award Announcement]
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-a4e7055e8e2216a3352df824b9b1edff-3000×2000.jpg The “Crystal SHIKA Award” was selected after heated discussion. On the final day of the festival, the Youth Film Jury announced the “Crystal SHIKA Award.” The winners were “The Road to the Seaside,” a nomination in the Berlin International Film Festival’s Generation section, and “Ripped Pantyhose,” an award-winning film from the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. The youth who participated in the judging commented, “It was an experience where we discussed the appeal of films in our own words, exchanged opinions, and learned to respect each other.” The ceremony embodied the festival’s philosophy of “nurturing youth initiative and creativity.” [About the 2026 event] The 2026 Nara International Film Festival is scheduled to be held in Nara City from Saturday, September 19th to Wednesday, September 23rd (national holiday). Further details will be announced in spring 2026, and youth project proposals will be accepted at the same time. [About hometown tax donations] The Nara International Film Festival is made possible by the support of local residents and businesses. We have now begun accepting donations through the hometown tax system via the [Nara City/Furusato Choice etc. Donation Reception Page URL]. We would appreciate your support for our activities to nurture future generations through film. URL: https://nara-iff.jp/join/join-05/ [Event Overview] Event Name: Nara International Film Festival for YOUTH 2025 Date and Venue: September 21st (Sun) and 23rd (Tue, National Holiday), 2025 Nara Park Bus Terminal Lecture Hall (76 Noborioji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture) September 22nd (Mon), 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Signature Pavilion “Proof of Life” Films screened: 3 Berlin International Film Festival recommendations, 5 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia award-winning films, youth-produced film “En” & making-of, NARAtive Jr. film “Yamanobe Radio” & making-of (12 films in total, including making-of) Naomi Kawase (President/Executive Director, Nara International Film Festival)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127743/13/127743-13-1069bc1cab670ac467e3529a8ccc4f7c-3900×3082.jpg Naomi Kawase If young people of the youth generation want to “create films,” “judge films,” and “present a film festival,” then the International Film Festival for YOUTH is the place for them. “The movie saved me” “It gave me confidence” “I felt a sense of
accomplishment I’d never felt before in my life.” “The film festival is like a second family.” These are all words from the youth members who participated this year. Creating something from nothing, even if it means groping around or scraping everything together, is truly challenging, yet at the same time, incredibly precious. The Nara International Film Festival is a place where you can share that energy with your peers. Experiencing the challenges and preciousness of filmmaking in their teens will be a lifelong treasure and a guidepost for them going forward. Next year will be the year of the main festival. The 9th Nara International Film Festival will be held for six days from Saturday, September 19th to Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026! We look forward to seeing you here in Nara again next year. [Organization Overview] Nara International Film Festival, a non-profit organization Address: Kumiga, Art Fukuzumi Building, 2nd Floor, 45 Takama-cho, Nara City, 630-8241 Business: Planning and management of film festivals Established: 2010 HP: https://nara-iff.jp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naraiffnaraiff/ Instagram (Youth): https://www.instagram.com/naraiffforyouth/
X:https://x.com/naraiffnaraiff Hometown tax:
https://www.city.nara.lg.jp/site/furusato/59574.html In cooperation with the Nara Prefecture Film Culture Revival Executive Committee Grant: Nara City Spiritual Hometown Support Donation and Charm Promotion Partner Support Organization Subsidy Program For more information about this release
Press release attachments