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JSFF Announces Open Call for 12th Edition: “THE NEXT”

Updated: Jul 26

Festival to spotlight visionary filmmaking at EXPO 2025 Osaka


12th JSFF open for submissions

OSAKA/BELGRADE – July 2025 – The Japanese-Serbian Film Festival (JSFF) has officially opened submissions for its 12th edition, with a thematic focus on “THE NEXT”, inviting filmmakers to submit bold and forward-looking works that explore future-facing perspectives in cinema. This year’s edition will culminate in a special international screening series during EXPO 2025 in Osaka, marking a significant expansion of JSFF’s global visibility.

Now in its twelfth year, JSFF continues its mission to identify and support new cinematic voices, bridging the cultural narratives of Japan and Serbia through curated film screenings, forums, and collaborative programming. Known for its accessible platform and commitment to thematic integrity, JSFF maintains a unique position as a bi-national cultural event that fosters storytelling innovation, not just technical advancement.


🔍 2025 THEME: “THE NEXT”

This year's theme, “THE NEXT”, serves as an open framework for filmmakers to explore ideas about transition, innovation, and cultural foresight. The theme reflects:

  • Narrative shifts, such as movements similar to the French New Wave or Serbia’s Black Wave.

  • Trend waves, questioning evolving genres, aesthetics, and storytelling conventions.

  • Signal waves, as metaphors for frequency, transmission, and long-distance cultural dialogue.

The festival invites submissions that experiment with form, push genre boundaries, and articulate new visions for the future — whether social, psychological, political, or artistic.


🎬 CATEGORIES AND ELIGIBILITY

JSFF accepts entries in the following categories:

JSFF FEATURE FILMS

  • Best Japanese Film

  • Best Serbian Film (One overall winner will be selected by the jury.)

JSFF SHORTS

  • Best Short Film

  • Best Japanese Short (Serbian Jury Award)

  • Best Serbian Short (Japanese Jury Award)

NIKOLA STOJANOVIC LEGACY AWARDPresented to the creator or work that demonstrates outstanding vision or critical depth in cinematic language.


Eligibility:

  • Open to Japanese or Serbian productions or co-productions

  • All genres are welcome

  • Films completed after January 1st, 2024

  • English subtitles required

  • Submissions are free of charge

Deadline for submissions: September 15, 2025

Submission are available on: FILMFREEWAY portal SUBMIT HERE


🎥 ABOUT JSFF

Founded in 2014, the Japanese-Serbian Film Festival is an annual bi-city event held in Tokyo and Belgrade, dedicated to the cultural exchange between Japan and Serbia through cinema. Over the years, it has hosted acclaimed guests including director Peter Webber, casting director Yoko Narahashi, Shuichi Okita, Kizu Toru, and mano notable voices from the new wave of Japanese and Serbian filmmaking.

JSFF functions as a curated cultural platform—where creative experimentation, international dialogue, and accessible screening opportunities coexist. With previous themes such as IDENTITY ,TABOO, VISION, LASTING, and WAVE, the festival continues to evolve with a focus on emerging filmmakers and contemporary relevance.


 
 
 

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