Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
▼Common to Cinema & NEXT Categories
Common to Cinema & NEXT Categories
Q. The submission guidelines require the use of "cutting-edge visual technology." Specifically, what kind of technologies or methods does this refer to?
- A. "Cutting-edge visual technology" as defined by this festival refers to any technology or method that goes beyond traditional digital cinema to update or revolutionize visual expressiveness or the production process. We do not place restrictions on genre or scale. Specifically, it includes (but is not limited to) the following technologies, methods, or combinations thereof:
1. Broad Utilization of AI Technologies
• [Generation]: Direct creation of footage, 3D models, or audio/music using generative AI.
• [Process]: Using AI for brainstorming or verifying plots during scriptwriting/refining stages, simulating directing plans, or utilizing AI for editing and color grading. (We highly welcome creative AI utilization in the planning and production phases, not just for generating final footage!)
2. Virtual Production (In-camera VFX, shooting using large-scale LED displays, etc.)
3. Advanced 3D/CG Technologies (Visual production utilizing game engines [Unity / Unreal Engine], motion capture, etc.)
4. XR and Spatial Expression Technologies (Shooting with 360-degree cameras, volumetric video, spatial/immersive audio, etc.)
5. Specialized Shooting & Editing Techniques (High-precision drone cinematography, ultra-high-speed shooting [high-speed cameras], latest digital compositing techniques, etc.)
6. New Media Formats (Vertical video production shot on smartphones, innovative editing techniques optimized for social media platforms, etc.)
The list above consists of mere examples. Any technology creatively adopted by a creator to expand visual expression or evolve the production process is broadly eligible.
For both the Cinema and NEXT categories, you must specifically state in the entry form "which cutting-edge visual technology (types of tools and usage) was used, in which part of the work (or which phase of production), and with what creative intention."
Q. "Cutting-edge visual technology" sounds like it requires high-end equipment, a massive budget, and specialized expertise. I am hesitant to apply.
- A. You do not need expensive equipment, professional studios, or large budgets at all! As a gateway for young creators, our festival values ideas and a challenging spirit over the scale or budget of the technology used.
For example, the following accessible approaches are fully considered a "creative utilization of cutting-edge visual technology":
• Video captured through unique creative ideas using smartphone or consumer camera functions.
• Experimental editing that incorporates free or individual-tier editing software and AI tools.
• Animations using free assets from game engines or low-cost CG.
• Works that challenge new visual expressions through editing rhythms or effects despite a low budget.
It is entirely sufficient if you describe in your own words on the entry form: "I used this equipment," "I tested this software," or "Within my limited environment, I used technology in this way to express my aesthetic." What matters most is your passion and attempt to create a new kind of visual image, not the luxury of the technology. Please do not hesitate to apply!
Q. Can I apply with a work that uses a unique, niche technology or an experimental, new tool that isn’t widely known?
- A. Yes! In fact, works that use unknown technologies or employ existing tools in completely unprecedented, groundbreaking ways are precisely what this festival looks forward to the most. We are not just looking for a flawless execution of established, mainstream technologies. We highly value a creator’s "experimental spirit"—challenging avant-garde expressions that no one has tried before, or applying existing tools in entirely new ways through unique ideas. You do not need to use highly technical jargon in the technology description section of the form. Simply tell us about your passion and intent in your own words.
Q. Can I enter the same work into both the Cinema Category and the NEXT Category?
- A. Duplicate entries of the same work are not permitted. If your work pursues expression as a traditional "film" (narrative or documentary), please select the Cinema Category (Feature Length Category or Short Length Category). If your work challenges new expressions that transcend the traditional framework of cinema, please select the NEXT Category. Please apply to only one of the two.
Q. The deadline is Monday, August 31, 2026. Can I bring my submission directly to the festival office?
- A. Hand-deliveries to the festival office are not permitted. Please submit your work by providing a screener link via the online entry form.
Q. Will I be notified if my work is not selected? If so, when?
- A. Yes. Applicants whose works are unfortunately not selected will also be notified via email by the end of December 2026.
Q. I re-edited the main film after submitting my entry. Can I resend an updated screener link?
- A. No, you cannot. Judging begins sequentially as soon as entries are received, so we do not accept updated screener submissions. If you have uncompleted elements (such as final sound mixing), please state so clearly in the "Special Notes" section of the form upon entry.
Cinema Category FAQ
Q. The submission guidelines mention "theatrical release" restrictions. What does "theatrical release" specifically mean?
- A. For this festival, a "theatrical release" refers to a history of a work being widely opened to the general public for commercial purposes. It is based on meeting any of the following criteria:
- A commercial roadshow release at standard movie theaters (including mini-theaters) or paid screenings for a set period.
- The manufacture, distribution, and commercial sale of physical media packages (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.).
- Television broadcasting on terrestrial, BS, CS, or cable networks.
- Streaming or public release on paid video-on-demand (VOD) services (such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, U-NEXT, etc.).
- Graduation screening events at educational institutions (universities, vocational schools, etc.).
- Limited cast/crew previews or private, non-commercial independent screenings.
- Competitive screenings at other film festivals.
Q. Regarding screening premieres, what are the differences between World, International, Asian, and Japan Premieres?
- A. * World Premiere: The screening at our festival will be the first time the work is shown anywhere in the world.
- ・International Premiere: The screening at our festival will be the first time the work is shown outside its country of production.
- ・Asian Premiere: The screening at our festival will be the first time the work is shown within the Asian region.
- ・Japan Premiere: The work has been screened internationally (such as at overseas festivals), but the screening at our festival will be its first time shown in Japan.
Q. I previously applied to the SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL and was not selected, but I have since made partial edits. Can I submit it as a new work?
- A. No. Regardless of past submission history, works produced prior to June 30, 2025, that have merely been re-edited cannot be accepted.
Q. I am currently entering (or plan to enter) other film festivals. Is it still possible to apply?
- A. Yes, you are fully welcome to apply to other film festivals simultaneously.
Q. Can I apply if my work is currently in distribution negotiations with a distribution company?
- A. Yes, you can apply regardless of whether negotiations are underway or if distribution has already been decided. However, please understand and adhere to the following conditions:
- [No Cancellation Post-Selection]: Once the selection process concludes and your work is formally nominated for screening, you cannot withdraw your entry or cancel the screening due to the distributor’s wishes or theatrical release schedules. Please coordinate with your rights holders and distributors before applying.
- [Progress Reports to the Secretariat]: If a distribution contract is formally signed or a theatrical release schedule is finalized during the selection period or after nomination, please report it immediately to the festival office (entry@skipcity-dcf.jp).
Q. What constitutes a "Feature Film"?
- A. For this festival, works with a runtime of 60 minutes or longer are classified as feature films (Feature Length Category).
Q. If a submission is co-directed, do the eligibility conditions apply to all directors?
- A. Yes. Every co-director must have four or fewer previous feature films that have received a commercial theatrical release. If even one co-director has a history of five or more commercially released feature films, the work will be ineligible.
NEXT Category FAQ
Q. The NEXT Category states there are "no runtime restrictions." Can I apply with extremely short videos (a few seconds to tens of seconds) or, conversely, very long videos spanning several hours?
- A. Yes, works of any length can be submitted. However, the work must be structured in a way that allows it to be screened and played back as a single, independent visual piece within a standard theater environment (a single, flat screen).
Q. Can I really submit non-film visual content like AI-generated videos, vertical videos, or music videos (MVs)?
- A. Yes! This category was specifically established to welcome new visual expressions that leap beyond the traditional concept of cinema. It targets all types of visual works whose expression has been updated through technology, including AI technology, vertical formats, MVs, experimental media art videos, and cutting-edge CG animation utilizing game engines (such as Unity or Unreal Engine).
Q. Can I submit VR works or installation pieces that synchronize video across multiple monitors?
- A. No, these are outside the scope of our submission criteria and cannot be accepted. Even in the NEXT Category, screenings take place on a flat theater screen inside a cinema. Therefore, we cannot review or screen works that require specialized viewing gear (such as VR goggles) or complex physical spatial installations.
Q. Is it required to specify the "utilized cutting-edge visual technology" for the NEXT Category as well?
- A. Yes, this is a mandatory requirement. Just as in the Cinema Category, you must specifically describe in the entry form what kind of cutting-edge visual technology (AI, advanced CG, special editing techniques, etc.) was used, in which part of the work, and with what creative intention.