Best Japanese & Serbian Short Films Announced at the 12th Annual Edition

A powerful lineup of Japanese and Serbian short films captivated audiences in Belgrade — here are the official JSFF short-film winners and jury statements.

The 12th Japanese-Serbian Film Festival (JSFF) brought together some of the most innovative new voices from Japan and Serbia, showcasing short films that are already resonating across international audiences searching for Japanese films, Japanese short anime-inspired cinema, and emerging Balkan talent. This year's selection highlighted emotional storytelling, bold visual styles, and cultural interplay that defines JSFF as one of the most unique bridges between Japanese and European film communities. Below are the official winners in the short-film competition, accompanied by exclusive statements from our international jury.

Best Short Film

Ding Dong Ditch (Chavo, Japan, 2024)

With remarkable subtlety, this work reminds us that true strength lies in simplicity and sincerity – that we can learn so much from children, whose support is free from prejudice, genuine, and aimed at connecting people. 

It inspires us to open our hearts, extend a hand of friendship and love, and reminds us that small acts of care and attention toward others can truly change the world.

Statement: Aleksandra Lazarovski (Producer, Serbia)

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Best Serbian Short

Tarik 

(Adem Tutic, Serbia, 2025)

This film shows that creativity is not defined by age or experience.

It weaves together themes of religion, economic hardship, family love, and adolescent turmoil with remarkable clarity, resulting in a refined and polished work.

Because the story is universal, every cinematic element is treated with great care and integrated seamlessly with the shifting Serbian landscape. Tarik’s team’s sincerity and discipline shine through.

It leaves you wanting to follow the boy as he rebuilds himself.

Statement: Takayanagi Akihiro (Producer, Japan)

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Best Japanese Short

A Recipe for Cat Ghosts

(Saki Haruo, Japan, 2025)

A film that gently illuminates the invisible bonds carried through memory, loss, and tenderness, shaping a world where absence takes on its own quiet presence.

Through delicate imagery and a refined sense of stillness, it evokes how small gestures and imagined rituals can hold space for comfort, remembrance, and the lingering traces of love.

Statement: Jovana Jovicic (Producer, Serbia)

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Honorable Mention Japan

Yellow Mashi Mashi Rhapsody

(Masahiro Saito, Japan, 2025)

A vibrant and boldly humorous work that follows a young man’s determined pursuit of love with irresistible energy.

Through dynamic action and inventive playfulness, even the simplest tasks – like the battle for the last noodle – become spirited rituals that reveal passion, perseverance, and imagination.

Celebrating courage, creativity, and the joy of embracing the absurd, this film leaves the audience smiling and exhilarated.

Statement: Aleksandra Lazarovski (Producer, Serbia)

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Honorable Mention Serbia

The Sunset Time

(Ognjen Petkovic, Serbia, 2025)

This work conveys a suffocating sense of pain and reality with striking intensity.

By placing caregiving in contrast with childcare, it highlights the essence of life, revealing how the elderly respond warmly to children and how dignity remains a deeply human desire.When the protagonist returns home and a boyish smile emerges, the film reminds us that even amid social and economic hardship, love is universal and memories endure.

Its production design, landscapes, and surrounding natural sounds blend into the living fabric of Serbia, creating a profound beauty that resonates long after the experience.

Statement: Takayanagi Akihiro (Producer, Japan)