Calling for film projects with international appeal. July.23.2025
Please submit a synopsis of up to 2,000 characters in Japanese.
Application deadline: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), in collaboration with Digital Hollywood University (DHU) and TIFFCOM, will co-host the “MPA/DHU/ TIFFCOM Master Class Seminar & Pitching Contest 2025” on Friday, October 31, 2025 (tentative) at the TIFFCOM venue.
This event is a seminar and pitching event aimed at building a platform for young filmmakers to expand overseas, and this year marks its seventh year.
In preparation for the event, we are now accepting applications for the Pitching Contest. The theme is open, but projects that appeal to the overseas market will be evaluated. Please submit a synopsis of up to 2,000 characters in Japanese. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
This seminar and pitching event, which is being held for the 7th time annually this year, was created to provide young film makers with a platform to expand overseas.
In conjunction with the event, we will begin accepting submissions for the pitching contest.
Themes are open, but we will evaluate works that appeal to the international market.
Please start by submitting a summary in the form of a synopsis of up to 2,000 words in Japanese.
The deadline is Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
■ Event Overview
Date: Friday, October 31, 2025, at the TIFFCOM venue (planned)
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho Pavilion
(1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Contents:
・Master class and seminar by a prominent international filmmaker (about 1 hour)
・Pitching contest by young filmmakers who have passed the first round (about 2 hours)
【Details for Master class and seminar】
We will listen to an internationally acclaimed filmmaker.
This year we will be joined by Schuyler Weiss who produced Baz Luhrmann’s latest feature film “Elvis” which was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture. He will share his stories behind the scenes and work ethic.
Schuyler Weiss is an Academy Award nominated producer based in the Gold Coast, Australia and New York. He has worked with Baz Luhrmann’s production company, Bazmark, since 2005 and currently serves as Managing Director and producing partner to Luhrmann and his creative partner Catherine Martin.
In addition to producing Luhrmann’s latest epic feature Elvis, which recently garnered eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Weiss also executive produced the long-anticipated re-mounting of Luhrmann’s Australia as a limited series for Hulu and Disney+, titled Faraway Downs.
Outside of his work at Bazmark, Weiss is currently producing the feature film How To Make Gravy, based on Paul Kelly’s iconic song.
In the US, Weiss co-founded New York-based Tandem Pictures in 2010, which he built into a successful film and commercial production company and sold in 2016. He has produced numerous independent films, including three features selected for the Sundance Film Festival.
Weiss’s work in entertainment spans film, TV, commercials, live events, VR and even co-writing a song with Elton John.
【Details for Pitching Contest】
Authors of the five projects selected from the submitted synopsis plus two others who were selected separately will be asked to make a pitch.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a trip to the Global Film & Television Immersion Program in November 2026 to see how film and television business is conducted in Los Angeles.
This program includes a 5-day course, round-trip economy class airfare from Japan to Los Angeles. (No interpreter will accompany the tour).
The Excellence Award winner will be invited to attend the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) to be held on the Gold Coast, Australia in November 2026.
The award includes round-trip economy class airfare from Japan to Australia, accommodation, and participation in the Asia Pacific Screen Forum. (No interpreter will accompany the tour).
*In the event that various circumstances make it difficult to award prizes, such as international travel or difficulty in hosting a destination event, The Motion Picture Association reserves the right, at its discretion, to substitute alternate opportunities for all or part of the prizes.
These cannot be redeemed for cash. Thank you for your understanding.
【Details on Entering the Pitching Contest】
Entry format: Synopsis of up to 2,000 words in Japanese
Theme: Any; however, we will evaluate works that are likely to appeal to the overseas market, taking into consideration the purpose of the event.
Data format: Microsoft Word or PDF, including the title of the work and the author’s name in the data
First round: Synopsis screening
Final round: Evaluation of a 5-minute presentation (on the day of the event)
Jury: Professionals involved in the film and video industry
For the final screening, please develop an attractive presentation that “makes us want to see the work made into a video”.
You can enter works that have already been announced, but only works for which the rights belong to the applicant. You may enter regardless of your age, or whether you are a professional or an amateur.
Only those selected will be notified of the results of the initial screening at the end of September 2025 to the e-mail address provided at the time of application. We do not respond to inquiries regarding screening.
・Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 (entries received by the end of this day will be accepted)
・Copyrights to the submitted works: Copyrights to the works belong to the authors. Sponsors, etc., will not seek any rights.
・Announcement of first round results: Late September 2025
Pitching Contest Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 (planned)
■How to Enter
Please use the following link to provide your address, name, age, gender, occupation, phone number, email address (no cell phone email addresses), title of the submitted work, and how you found out about this call for entries. Please also include your C.V. (any format), as well as a synopsis (max. 2,000 characters).
Please be advised that we are not accepting applications by mail.
The synopsis can be in any format (Word, PDF, etc.), but please be sure to include the following three items in the data: (1) title, (2) author’s name, and (3) a synopsis of 2,000 words or less.
Entry form: https://krs.bz/dhw/m/mpadhutiffcom2025
■Inquiries
Film Workshop Executive Office
pitchingcontest@jimca.co.jp (There will be no response on weekends or holidays.)