10 Best Music Video and Short Film Competitions [Spring–Summer 2016]

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• Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefHane Keisukebeenhere
  Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.

Music Video Contest

First, I’d like to introduce four contests where artists and companies are seeking music videos—visuals set to music.

[Deadline 5/31] Your Happiness Video Contest

http://www.kento.co.jp/info/contest.html

The first one is your happiness video contest, which has a deadline of May 31.

This contest uses an original song created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the company Kento Housing Sales in Kyoto, and is accepting video works on the theme of “Your Happiness.”

The original song by Kento Jutaku Hanbai used in the piece is titled “Kizuna.” There are two versions available—an original version and a jazz version—so you can choose the one that fits the image and proceed with production.

In addition to a 100,000-yen cash prize, the Grand Prize winner will have opportunities for broad exposure, such as having their work featured on the Kento Housing Sales website and screened at events.

In addition, a total of four awards are available, with a total prize pool of 300,000 yen.

Note added on 4/9:You can also apply with data from the web.It has become.

Your Happiness Video Contest Official Website

[Deadline 5/5] Serph Music Video Contest

http://art-and-more.jp/2016/03/serph-mv.html

The second one is this, due by 5/5.

We are looking for video submissions to accompany the re-recorded version of “feather (overdrive version),” the track that sparked the breakthrough of Serph, an instrumental electronic music artist.

Serph says this song is special to him, and he wants to make it even more special together with all the contest participants.

The Grand Prix winner will receive a cash prize of 100,000 yen and, moreover, it will be selected as the official music video.

Wouldn’t the opportunity to actually create a music video for a popular artist be an incredibly exciting experience?

Serph Music Video Contest Official Website

[Deadline 5/14] 'Swimming Through Dreams' Music Video Competition

http://compe.sterfield.jp/

We are seeking submissions for the music video of “Yume o Yūei suru” (Swimming Through Dreams), a track included on drawin doll’s first mini-album, HAKONIWA HANDMADE. drawin doll is an artist known for lyrics with uniquely distinctive word choices.

Download the song “Yume o Yuei suru” (Swimming Through Dreams) distributed online, and create your own video that matches the image of the track.

I listened to it as well, and it has a unique worldview. I think producing the music video for this song would be rewarding and very interesting.

“Dream Swimming” Music Video CompetitionOfficial websitesite

[Deadline 5/31] anderlust Short Movie Competition

http://www.anderlust.jp/competition/

And the final music video contest is for the MV of a song by anderlust, the duo consisting of singer-songwriter Anna Koshino and bassist Shingo Nishizuka.

However, there is something that sets this contest apart from others.

Usually, music videos are made by adding visuals to a song, so the song comes first. This time, however, in keeping with the idea of “not being constrained by boundaries,” the visuals came first and a brand-new song was written to match them—a slightly unusual approach to making an MV.

While the theme is basically free, the stipulation that it should evoke a sense of poignancy or add impact makes it an exceptionally difficult brief.

It seems that works which move people's hearts are being sought.

anderlust SHORT MOVIE COMPETITIONOfficial websitesite

Film contest

Next, we would like to introduce four film contests—competitions—held at the film festival.

[Deadline 5/6] Kisssh-Kissssssh Film Festival 2016

http://kisssh-kissssssh.com/

First, the contest is to solicit films for screening at the Kisssh-Kissssssh Film Festival held in Wakayama.

You can enter with a self-produced film of up to 30 minutes in the Animation category or up to 90 minutes in the Cinema category, and selected works will actually be screened on the day of the festival.

Isn’t having your own film screened at a film festival something that anyone involved in filmmaking dreams of?

In addition to the grand prize money, it seems the winner will also receive fresh seafood caught in Wakayama, which is a wonderful way to make use of the local character.

Kisssh-Kissssssh Film Festival Call for Entries Website

[Deadline 5/11] The 8th Shimokitazawa Film Festival Competition Section

http://shimokitafilm.com/

The second is a competition at a film festival held in Shimokitazawa, a hub of diverse culture where many theaters, cinemas, live music venues, and shops line the streets.

Isn't it possible to submit a wide range of works, as long as they are videos up to 50 minutes in length, with any genre or format (film, video, etc.)?

Now that digital cameras are so widespread, it might be interesting to submit footage shot on a film camera precisely for that reason.

The nominated works will also be screened here on the day of the film festival.

Shimokitazawa Film Festival Submission Website

[Deadline 7/15] The 10th Tanabe Benkei Film Festival Competition Section

http://www.tbff.jp/cnts/option2/?c=competition2016

Following the Kisssh-Kissssssh Film Festival mentioned earlier, this is also a competition for a film festival held in Wakayama.

This Tanabe Benkei Film Festival competition serves as a gateway to success, having launched many filmmakers who, after winning, made their commercial film debuts and went on to become well-known directors.

This year marks the 10th edition of this full-fledged film festival, and it appears that winners will receive cash prizes and awards, as well as screening rights at Theater Shinjuku and Cine Libre Umeda.

Tanabe Benkei Film Festival - Call for Entries Website

[Deadline 5/22] 19th Kyoto International Student Film Festival

http://www.kisfvf.com/entry/

The fourth film festival is the Kyoto International Student Film Festival.

While this film festival is planned and run by students from the Kansai region centered on Kyoto, it is also one of Japan’s largest international student film festivals, collecting student-produced films from around the world for judging and screening.

Of course, only works created by students may be submitted to the competition, which has two categories: Live-Action and Animation.

There are also many works from overseas, so it should be a very stimulating experience for the participating students.

Kyoto International Student Film Festival Submission Website

Others

Lastly, I’d like to introduce two contests that are currently accepting short film submissions.

[Deadline 4/10] Nespresso Talent 2016

http://www.nespresso.com/whatelse/jp/ja#!/talents/contest

Nespresso Talent is being held to support talented young filmmakers.

The theme of this contest is “Explore your extraordinary – enjoy what’s unlike anything else –,” and you can enter with a short movie of up to 3 minutes.

And for the three winners, there’s an amazing prize: €6,000 in cash and an invitation to the Cannes Film Festival—truly a dream contest for film lovers.

Furthermore, the defining feature of this contest is that the video works are in a vertical format.

Vertical-format videos that have been gaining attention with the widespread use of smartphones.

Wouldn't it allow for new kinds of expressions that aren't possible on a typical horizontally oriented screen?

Nespresso Talent Official Website

[Deadline 7/31] DigiCon6 ASIA

http://www.tbs.co.jp/digicon/

Lastly, we’d like to introduce a short film contest hosted by TBS for films 15 minutes or less.

DigiCon6 ASIA is held with the aim of discovering outstanding talent from around 10 countries and regions across Asia.

Therefore, we receive many applications from overseas as well, making it a highly recommended contest if you want to test your abilities.

In addition to the general category, there is a youth category, making it easier for those 18 and under to participate.

DigiCon6 ASIA Official Website

In conclusion

We’ve introduced a variety of contests and competitions—how did you find them?

Some opportunities don’t require an application fee and are easy to apply to, so if you’re interested in video production, why not study a bit, create a piece, and give applying a try?

An unexpected talent might blossom.

Also, of course, if you're thinking of pursuing a path in video production, please don’t hesitate to apply and seize the opportunity.