Chiisana Teien

Pia Film Festival (PFF) takes place at the National Film Archive of Japan in September. The PFF celebrates the culture of Self-Produced Film (Jishu-Eiga) and provides many opportunities of rich experience of cinema to both young filmmakers and audiences through various programs since the establishment in 1977.

PFF’s competition was introduced in 1988, and is open to any film completed after March in the previous year. There is no restriction on length, format, genre, nationality or the gender of the filmmaker. Given the problem of defining “Self-Produced Film” in these changing times, PFF opts to accept as “Self-Produced” any film so defined by its director. The submission of films for competition closes in March each year, and every title is seen by at least three members of a fifteen-member pre-selection committee. The rule is: no stopping or fast-forwarding once a film has started. In the second stage of selection, all films which have survived the first stage are seen by all fifteen members of the pre-selection committee. This committee then finalises the choice of films for competition. These films are seen in the festival by an invited jury of professional artists, who deliberate and decide on the prize-winners. The result is announced at a ceremony during the festival.

(Source: Official Site)

Award Archive: https://pff.jp/jp/award/archives/