Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2011

The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2011 has been giving brief shots of cinematic joy at venues in Yokohama and Tokyo since kick-off on June 16. Festival visitors have included filmmakers, with many of the participating shorts’ creators turning out to introduce their works and field questions from audiences.

Popular 18-year-old model Rika Adachi, currently serving as a PR ambassador for J-League soccer, and sports writer—and former player—Tetsuo Nakanishi showed up at Space O in Omotesando Hills to kick off the Football Program (http://metropolis.co.jp/movies/movie-news/movie-pitches/), a collection of soccer-themed shorts scheduled to mark the 20th anniversary of professional soccer in Japan.

Directors Kazuhito Nakae, Kazuhiko Kondo, Ko Kuriki and Tetsuya Nagato presented a cycle of fashion-related films in the Kiryu Program, including a documentary on fashion designer Jun Takahashi, the mind behind the brand Undercover.

Veteran J-pop singer Tomoko Tane was on hand to introduce the Japan Music Shorts Program, which included music videos and shorts featuring the sounds of Superfly, Every Little Thing, Girl Next Door and a smattering of up-and-coming music artists.

Actress Atsuko Sakurai, who plays a Japanese woman searching Seoul for her favorite K-pop idol in Super Star but winds up connecting with a taxi driver instead, unveiled the film with her on-screen counterpart Eung-soo Kim.

There was an education bent to some of the guests appearances, as filmmaker and professor Isshin Inudo held a seminar entitled “Shoot for the Future in Filmmaking!”

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2011 screenings continue until June 26 at the Laforet Museum in Harajuku and Brillia Short Shorts Theater in Yokohama. The Award Ceremony will be held on June 26, but is, alas, invitation only. But don’t fear—award winners and festival recaps will be posted on the Metropolis Short Shorts page (http://metropolis.co.jp/ss11)