Yubari international fantastic film festival 2026 (36)

Festival Start: 04 Juni 2026      Festival Ende: 07 Juni 2026

The Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival seeks to gather imaginative “fantastic films” from around the world—including science fiction, horror, fantasy, and action—and to create a space where cinematic expression intersects beyond borders and languages.

Beyond discovering new talent, the festival is deeply committed to preserving and passing on the cinematic culture cultivated in this region to the next generation.

By fostering encounters between creators and audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds, encouraging dialogue and deeper understanding through film, and nurturing the cultural cycle born from screening, exchange, and dissemination, the festival aims to ensure that film culture is not a fleeting event, but an enduring endeavor carried forward into the future.

Rooted in Yubari, the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival continues its journey as a platform connecting the world and the region, the past and the future—passing on the imagination and creativity inherent in cinema to generations to come.

【Awards】

1.Fantastic yubari competition-Grand Prix

2.International short film competition-Grand Prix

3.Entertainment,Animation & AI competition-Grand Prix

4.International new wave film award

5.Fantastic film award

6.New wave award-Creator award

[ORGANIZER]
Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival Organizing Committee

Please note that this festival is organized by a newly established entity that is legally independent from the organizations (including any former NPOs) that operated past festivals under the same name.

[FESTIVAL DATES]
The festival will be held from June 4 to June 7, 2026.
It's the season when Yubari melons, a specialty of Yubari City, are harvested.

[VENUE]
Arisada no Mori, Yubari City, Hokkaido, Japan

[COMPETITION SECTIONS]
1. Fantastic Yubari Competition (Feature Films)
(Running time: 60 minutes or more)
This section focuses on films that demonstrate strong authorship, entertainment value, and originality.

2. International Short Film Competition
(Running time: less than 60 minutes)
This section is open to short films that present distinctive perspectives and originality within a limited running time.

3. Animation & AI Competition
(No running time restrictions)
This section includes films such as animation, music videos, and experimental films.
Films with a high level of entertainment value that appeal to a broad audience are eligible.

[AWARDS]
1. Fantastic Yubari Competition – Grand Prix
2. International Short Film Competition – Grand Prix
3. Animation & AI Competition – Grand Prix
4. International New Wave Film Award
5. Fantastic Film Award
6. New Wave Award – Creator Prize

[PRIZES]
Each award recipient will receive a certificate and a trophy.
In addition, cash prizes will be awarded to the recipients of the following awards:

— International New Wave Film Award:
(Eligible for feature-length films only)
JPY 500,000

— Fantastic Film Award:
(Open to films from all sections)
JPY 300,000

— New Wave Award – Creator Prize:
(Open to films from all sections)
JPY 200,000

Cash prizes will be paid after the conclusion of the festival by a method determined by the organizer.

Any bank transfer fees or related charges shall be borne by the award recipient.

[SUBMISSION METHOD]
Submitters must submit their films in the category corresponding to the film’s running time.
The organizer will determine the appropriate competition section for each film based on the film’s running time and content.

[ELIGIBILITY]
— Submissions are open to filmmakers of all nationalities, ages, and professional backgrounds.

— The applicant must hold all necessary rights to the submitted work, or have obtained proper authorization from the rights holder(s).

— Multiple submissions are permitted; however, each film must be submitted separately.

[SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS]
— Completion Date:
Films must have been completed on or after January 1, 2025.

— Language and Subtitles:
For films in languages other than Japanese, Japanese or English subtitles are required.
Even if the film is in English, English or Japanese subtitles must be provided to assist the Selection Committee in understanding the film.

— Premiere Requirement:
Eligible films must qualify as a Hokkaido Premiere, meaning they have not been publicly released in Hokkaido through theatrical release, television broadcast, or major VOD platforms.

— Limited Screenings:
Limited releases, such as password-protected online screenings, festival screenings, or screenings at educational institutions, do not affect eligibility.

— Online Public Release:
Films that have been publicly released on platforms such as YouTube are generally not eligible for selection.

[SUBMISSION FEES]
A submission fee is required and varies according to the film’s running time and the applicable deadline.

— Films less than 30 minutes
Early Deadline: USD 29
Regular Deadline: USD 37
Late Deadline: USD 44
Final Deadline: USD 51

— Films 30 minutes or more, but less than 60 minutes
Early Deadline: USD 40
Regular Deadline: USD 48
Late Deadline: USD 55
Final Deadline: USD 62

— Films 60 minutes or more
Early Deadline: USD 51
Regular Deadline: USD 59
Late Deadline: USD 66
Final Deadline: USD 73

*All submission fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.

[STUDENT DISCOUNT]
A 20% student discount on the applicable submission fee will be granted to submitters who are 25 years of age or younger at the time of submission and are currently enrolled in an educational institution such as a university, vocational school, or high school.

Submitters requesting the student discount must self-declare their student status at the time of submission. The organizer reserves the right to request documentation, such as a valid student ID or other proof of enrollment, if deemed necessary.

If any false declaration is found, the submission may be deemed invalid.

[SELECTION]
The Selection Committee will review submitted films and determine the official selection for screening at the festival.

The festival is unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding the selection process or results.

[NOTIFICATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF SELECTION RESULTS]
Selected films will be notified in late April 2026, and the results will be announced on the festival’s official website.

Please note that the notification and announcement dates are subject to change.

[SUBMISSION OF SCREENING MATERIALS]
Applicants whose films are selected must submit screening materials and any required supplementary materials by the deadline specified by the organizer.

— Screening Master File:
The standard format is MP4 (1920 × 1080, Full HD).

Depending on the venue and screening format, the organizer may request submission in alternative formats such as ProRes.
Further details will be provided after the official selection.

[SCREENING]
Selected films will be screened during the festival period at venues designated by the organizer.

[JUDGING]
The Jury Committee, chaired by the Jury President, will judge the selected films and determine the award recipients during the festival period.

The festival is unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding the judging process or results.

[MUSIC AND COPYRIGHTS]
The applicant is solely responsible for obtaining all necessary copyrights, licenses, and permissions for any music, footage, characters, images, or other materials used in the submitted film.

[RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITY, AND INDEMNIFICATION]
1. The applicant represents and warrants that the submitted film does not infringe upon any copyrights, portrait rights, trademark rights, or any other rights of third parties.

2. In the event of any dispute, damage, claim, or liability arising from the submitted film, the applicant shall resolve such matters at their own responsibility and expense. The organizer shall not be held liable, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence.

3. If the organizer incurs any damages as a result of such disputes or claims, the applicant shall be responsible for compensating the organizer for those damages.

[PROMOTIONAL USE]

1. For festival-related and promotional purposes only, the organizer may use still images, trailers, and excerpts from the submitted film (generally up to approximately two minutes).

2. The organizer will not use the submitted film for sales, third-party advertising, or any other commercial purposes.

[HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION]

1. Personal information collected during the submission process will be used solely for festival operations, selection notifications, screening coordination, and award-related communications.

2. Personal information will not be disclosed to third parties without the applicant’s consent, except as required by law.

[OBLIGATIONS AFTER SELECTION]
Submitters of selected films must submit screening materials and any required supplementary materials by the deadline specified by the organizer.

If, after selection, it is found that a submitter has violated these submission guidelines or the festival’s rules and regulations, the organizer reserves the right to revoke the selection or any awards.

Submitters of selected films are expected to attend the festival’s opening ceremony, the screening of their selected film, and the closing ceremony during the festival period.

[FORCE MAJEURE]
The festival schedule, venues, or screening formats may be changed or the festival may be canceled due to natural disasters, government directives, or other unavoidable circumstances.
The organizer shall not be held responsible for such changes or cancellations.

[TRAVEL EXPENSES]
Travel expenses for attending the festival are, in principle, the responsibility of the participants.
However, if a production team of a selected film attends the festival, a travel subsidy of up to JPY 20,000 per film will be provided.
Applicants must submit a travel expense invoice after the conclusion of the festival.
A designated invoice form will be sent by email after the festival.

[AGREEMENT]
The organizer reserves the right to amend these submission guidelines without prior notice.

Any matters not stipulated in these guidelines shall be determined at the discretion of the organizer.

The interpretation and application of these guidelines shall be determined by the organizer, whose decision shall be final.

By completing the submission process, submitters are deemed to have agreed to all terms and conditions set forth herein.