The 22nd SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL held its on-screen theatrical screenings over a 9-day period from Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 26, with SKIP CITY serving as the main venue.

 

Following this year's opening ceremony, Director Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One was screened as part of the SKIP CITY Selection. Amidst the palpable excitement generated by the grand screen and powerful sound system unique to a movie theater, a large crowd packed the venue, making for a spectacular kickoff to the festival.

 

For the Competition, the core of the festival, submissions were invited this year from digital cinema works produced within Japan, drawing a total of 271 entries. After a rigorous selection process, 13 nominated works were chosen. Film director Kei Ishikawa served as the Jury President, conducting the final judging alongside film producer Eiko Mizuno and International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) programmer Koen de Rooij.

 

Throughout the festival, numerous guests, including directors and producers from both Japan and abroad, visited the venue. They participated in post-screening Q&A sessions and talk events, providing opportunities for interaction between creators and the audience, which deepened the understanding of the films and enlivened the festival. Furthermore, as part of the International Invited Screening program, four short and feature-length films highly acclaimed at festivals such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam—including Under the Volcano and Holy Electricity—were screened. These screenings featured international guests visiting Japan, creating a globally diverse and vibrant event.

 

This year’s special program featured a themed screening titled "The Path to Becoming a Commercial Film Director." Welcoming Competition Jury President and Director Kei Ishikawa, the program featured a screening of his film Gukoroku: Traces of Sin. Following the screening, Ishikawa was joined by producer Masato Kakurai to discuss their experiences in commercial filmmaking and the significance of cinema, sharing valuable insights aimed at aspiring young filmmakers.

 

The "SKIP CITY Selection" featured a curated lineup of classic and contemporary masterpieces, including Look Back, AKIRA 4K Remaster, and Godzilla 4K Digital Remaster, alongside Imonokuni Fudoki, a film rooted in the local region. The screening of Imonokuni Fudoki was followed by a talk event featuring directors Yukinori Kurokawa and Ayaka Inoue. Additionally, a special screening was held for the SKIP CITY Incubate project Dish Up, followed by a glamorous stage appearance by director Harumi Ikemoto and cast members Sho Aoyagi and Yugo Mikawa.

 

The special program "The Present State of AI Cinema" brought together works including Last Dream by director Soshi Kushida, a past award winner at this festival. A talk event was held to explore the expressive possibilities of visual media through collaboration between humans and AI.

 

 

 

As part of the related events, the "Anime Hiroba" (Anime Square) screened The Boss Baby: Family Business, Migration, and Despicable Me 4, offering entertainment for both children and adults. The "Camera Crayon" program screened works produced by the Kawaguchi Children's Film Club, accompanied by critiques from professional creators. This year also featured "Magic Roll," a workshop where participants could easily learn the mechanics of two-frame animation using just paper and pens. Furthermore, VTuber Tsukushi Kasukabe hosted "Tsukushi Kasukabe's Faves Fest! Discover the Charm of Saitama," sharing local attractions from her unique perspective. Other community-centered events included a character photo session at Aeon Mall Kawaguchi Maekawa and the "D-Cinema Marche," which featured stalls from local businesses.

 

Additionally, a special exhibition titled "Visual Media Shapes as Seen by Digital Natives" was organized to introduce the advent of video-generating AI and changing viewing environments. The exhibition provided a hands-on space where visitors could experience new forms of visual expression, such as VR, XR, and vertical filmmaking.

 

On Saturday, July 26, the final day of theatrical screenings, the Closing Ceremony was held to announce and present the Competition awards. In this year's competition, the animated film Mimesis in the Water, co-directed by Takeru Mogi and Taichi Nagasawa, was honored with the prestigious Grand Prize (Best Picture). The SKIP CITY Award, given to a director whose talent shows great potential for future feature filmmaking, went to The Long Night (directed by Yuki Kusakari). How to Build a Secret Base (directed by Tomoya Itabashi) won the Audience Award, chosen by audience vote. In addition, a Special Mention was awarded to The Unfunny Comedian by director Yuka Nishida, as the entire venue celebrated the birth of these new talents.

 

The SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL 2025 closed on a high note, recording a total attendance of 11,192 visitors, significantly surpassing the previous year’s figure of 7,046. Since its inaugural edition in 2004, the festival has served as a gateway to success for young creators, discovering numerous new talents and expanding the possibilities of digital cinema. With this 22nd edition, the festival brings its long history to a close. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your warm support and patronage over the years.

 

Moving forward, while inheriting the spirit built up until now, the festival will undergo a full renewal and be reborn as the "SKIP CITY KINETECH International Film Festival"—a festival that transcends the boundaries of digital cinema to showcase next-generation visual culture. As we turn the page to this fresh, transformed next chapter, we look forward to your continued anticipation and unwavering support.