Mt. Fuji – Atami Film & VR Festival will take place beginning 28 June ~ 1 July, 2018 in Atami, Japan.

The Mt. Fuji – Atami Film Festival is Japan’s best independent international film festival supporting young talent around the world. We are partners with one of Japan’s biggest and most famous theater chains, the largest satellite TV broadcaster in Japan, as well as international support from Busan International Film Festival and our sister festival in Europe, the ÉCU European Independent Film Festival.

We have six categories and twelve awards along with a gala opening and closing ceremony in Atami – The Hollywood of Japan!

Mt. Fuji overlooks the seaside resort of Atami. Atami is famously known as a seat for traditional geisha culture and has been called the “Naples of Japan.” But in June, Atami becomes the “Hollywood of Japan.”

Creating dreams and hope through cinema is our vision. Returning Japan to the glory days of cinema for young filmmakers and independent artists is the goal of The Mt. Fuji – Atami Film & VR Festival. The Mt. Fuji Atami Film & VR Festival provides the perfect place for independent filmmakers and virtual reality creators to show their talents and art to the Japanese as well as people from around the world. The Mt. Fuji – Atami Film & VR Festival aspires to become Japan’s premiere, world-class film and virtual reality festival. We embrace ideas and innovation with creativity and we give independent directors a real competition to showcase their films and virtual reality projects to audiences who appreciate and love independent cinema.

Our categories include:
*Narrative Feature
*Narrative Short
*Documentary Feature
*Narrative Short Documentary
*Short Animation
*Music Videos
*Virtual Reality and New Media

Because of our partners. award winners and nominated films are eligible for nationwide theatrical distribution, DVD distribution and TV broadcasting in Japan. Awards also are given to Virtual Reality winners.

The Mt. Fuji – Atami Film & VR Festival (MFAFF) is an annual film festival meant to showcase innovative independent cinema and new virtual reality from around the world by up-and-coming artists. As well as award-winning works selected by our sister festival in Europe: The ÉCU European Independent Film Festival and advisory from The Busan International Film Festival.

MFAFF hopes to be the voice and representation for films with a unique voice and message, regardless of how low the budget might be.

We are aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent with a revitalized film festival that all of Japan can be proud of.

The Mt. Fuji – Atami Film & VR Festival accepts all forms and genres: short films, medium length films, feature films, drama, experimental, comedy, horror, slow cinema, science fiction, fantasy, animation, documentary and we allow for special prizes for students and films shot in Atami. We also have a special Virtual Reality center to showcase new Virtual Reality projects and creators.

We aspire to become Japan’s most famous and successful film and Virtual Reality festival.

June is a fantastic time for the sea-side resort town of Atami. It’s an exciting time as that’s when we showcase about 50 of the World’s very best independent films. Although MFAFF emphasizes talent from all over the world, it also recognizes the works and art of local filmmakers with several categories allocated to them.

The first Mt. Fuji – Atami Film & VR Festival will take place beginning 28 June ~ 1 July, 2018 in Atami, Japan (Just 40 minutes from Tokyo by bullet train).

MFAFF intends to help the careers of all independent filmmakers, actors, DPs, editors, screenwriters and intends to be firmly established as Japan’s first, foremost and eminent film and virtual reality festivals.

MFAFF isn’t just all about screening a fabulous list of new and exciting films over its four-day event. There are also professional workshops led by experts in the industry, Q&A’s held with the attending filmmakers after every screening session and a chance to network with fellow filmmakers, producers, agents, industry representatives, prospective film buyers and, of course, the cinema-loving public.

Above all, we are proud to welcome you all to Atami, Japan and our filmmakers’ festival!