Japanese

Entry: Regulations

  1. Period:
    YIDFF 2027 will be held from October 7 to October 14, 2027.

  2. Programs:
    YIDFF 2027 is accepting entries for the International Competition and New Asian Currents. Entrants must choose one program for each entry.

  3. Submission:

    Call for entries begins on September 1, 2026.

    1. Deadlines:
      • First deadline: December 15, 2026 (for works completed before October 31, 2026)
      • Second deadline: April 15, 2027 (for works completed after November 1, 2026)
    2. Entry fee: 1,000 yen
      • The fee must be paid through the designated online payment system after submitting the entry form. Entry fee will not be refunded for any reason.
      • The registration is considered complete once the entry fee has been received by the Festival by each submission deadline.
    3. Entry Registration:
      1. Entrants are required to submit the completed online entry form on the YIDFF website.
      2. Submission of Films for Selection:
        An online screener link must be provided on the entry form. We recommend using online video streaming platforms such as Vimeo or YouTube.
        The replacement of the work due to editorial changes is not permitted once it’s submitted.

        The work may also be submitted on DVD by sending two DVD copies of the film (region 0 / DVD-Video format). Blu-ray disk is not acceptable.

        • For the DVDs, please do not use any labeling sticker on your DVD. Simply write the following information directly on the face of the disc.
          • film’s title
          • entry number

          Shipping address:
          Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
          #201, 9-52 Kinomi-cho, Yamagata City 990-0044 JAPAN
          phone: 81-23-666-4480

          * For entrants who send DVDs from abroad, we advise you to declare the following on the envelope: “No commercial value. For cultural purposes only.”

      1. Entrants may also upload the materials listed below, if available.
        • Press kit (English or Japanese)
        • Film stills (up to 3 different images)

    4. Shipping expenses and liability for loss:
      The entrant is responsible for the cost of shipping DVDs as part of their entry, as well as all insurance and any other expenses incurred. YIDFF takes no responsibility in case of accidental damage or loss, except in cases where the entries are in the possession of the Festival office.
    5. Preservation of submitted screeners:
      Entrants may indicate their wish for the submitted screener to be preserved and made available within the Yamagata Documentary Film Library.
    6. Entry Conditions:
      The entrant is responsible for all necessary copyright clearances for material used in their submitted works. The YIDFF will not be held responsible for damage resulting from copyright infringement lawsuits from other parties, which are entirely the responsibility of the entrant.

  4. Selected Program:
    With regard to submitted works, the Festival organizers will determine which program is best suited, if accepted.

  5. Web Database:
    All information in the entry form except personal data will be published on the YIDFF website with the entrant’s consent.

  6. Validity:
    Submission of an entry to YIDFF implies full acceptance of these regulations. Should any matter come into dispute, only the Japanese version of these regulations will be regarded as valid and any such dispute must be settled under Japanese law.


  7. International Competition

    1. Outline:
      Films selected from open call for entries from around the world. The best work is awarded the Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize, named for the husband-and-wife team who cultivated and expanded the horizons of documentary film.
    2. Eligibility:
      Everyone is welcome to submit their work, provided that the following conditions are met:
      1. Filmmakers intend that the work is a documentary.
      2. The final form of the work is 16mm or 35mm film print, or video/digital format (DCP, Blu-ray, video files etc).
      3. The work has not been released publicly in Japan (screenings in theaters or TV broadcast) prior to being presented at YIDFF 2027. Japanese films are exempt from this rule.
      4. The work is completed after April 1, 2025.
      5. The work must be 40 minutes or longer.
    3. Selection:
      1. Selection process: Approximately 15 works will be selected by the Festival organaizers and selection committee.
      2. Notification: Entrants will be officially notified shortly after the selection.
    4. About screenings:
      1. Works to be screened:
        1. Screening copy: The Festival organizers may convert selected works to different screening formats at their discretion, with respect to the original.
        2. The Festival organizers will produce English or Japanese subtitles for works screened, as deemed necessary.
        3. Costs incurred in making a Japanese- or English-language version of the work and shipping screening copies to and from the Festival office will be covered by the YIDFF.
      2. Required items for selected works:
        Screening copies of the selected works must reach the Festival office by the due date designated by the Festival organizers. (English subtitles are required for non-English and non-Japanese language films.) Complete dialogue list in original language with an English or Japanese translation is also required if the original is in any other language.
      3. Invitation:
        One director for each selected film will be invited to the Festival, with the expenses covered by the YIDFF.
        * The terms of invitation will be determined by economic and social circumstances.
      4. Publicity:
        1. Entrants whose work is selected authorize broadcast of segments for Festival promotion on television in Japan and abroad, the internet and other media (3 minutes or less).
        2. They also authorize the use of still photographs in the Official Catalog, YIDFF website, and other publicity materials.
      5. Screening copies after the Festival:
        Screening copies with Japanese or English subtitles will be preserved and used for research and educational purposes at the YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library. All subsequent public screenings using this screening copy will require an agreement between the rights owner and YIDFF.
      6. Jury:
        An International Competition jury will be assigned, composed of individuals selected by the Festival organizers.
      7. Prizes:
        The jury will award the following prizes with remuneration to the directors:
        • The Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize (The Grand Prize): 1,500,000 yen
        • The Mayor’s Prize: 1,000,000 yen
        • Three Awards of Excellence: 300,000 yen each


  8. New Asian Currents

    1. Outline:
      Selected from open call for entries, New Asian Currents presents a wide variety of works from Asia without restrictions on format or length. The Ogawa Shinsuke Prize is awarded to the best film in honor of the late film director who was instrumental in the creation of the YIDFF and devoted much of his energy to facilitating exchange among Asian documentarists.
    2. Eligibility:
      Everyone is welcome to submit their work, provided that the following conditions are met:
      1. Filmmakers intend that the work is a documentary.
      2. The work is related to Asian regions or made by filmmakers with Asian roots.
      3. There are no restrictions on format (film or video/digital), length of work, or production year.
    3. Selection:
      1. Selection process: Works will be selected by the Festival organizers and selection committee.
      2. Notification: Entrants will be officially notified shortly after the end of the selection process.
    4. About screenings:
      1. Works to be screened:
        1. Screening copy: The Festival organizers may convert selected works to different screening formats at their discretion, with respect to the original.
        2. The Festival organizers will produce Japanese or English subtitles for the screening copy, as deemed necessary.
        3. Costs incurred in making a Japanese- or English-language version of the work and shipping screening copies to and from the Festival office will be covered by the YIDFF.
      2. Required items for selected works:
        Screening copies of the selected works must reach the Festival office by the due date designated by the Festival organizers. (English subtitles are required for non-English and non- Japanese language films.) Complete dialogue list in original language with an English or Japanese translation is also required if the original is in any other language.
      3. Invitation:
        One director for each selected film will be invited to the Festival, with the expenses covered by the YIDFF.
        * The terms of invitation will be determined by economic and social circumstances.
      4. Publicity:
        1. Entrants whose work is selected authorize broadcast of segments for Festival promotion on television in Japan and abroad, the internet and other media (3 minutes or less).
        2. They also authorize the use of still photographs in the Official Catalog, YIDFF website, and other publicity materials.
      5. Screening copies after the Festival:
        Screening copies with Japanese or English subtitles will be preserved and used for research and educational purposes at the YAMAGATA Documentary Film Library. All subsequent public screenings using this screening copy will require an agreement between the rights owner and YIDFF.
      6. Jury:
        New Asian Currents jury will be assigned, composed of individuals selected by the Festival organizers.
      7. Prizes:
        The jury will award the following prizes with remuneration to the directors:
        • Ogawa Shinsuke Prize: 800,000 yen
        • Two Awards of Excellence: 300,000 yen each

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