Miyazaki Prefecture Nobeoka City's Residency Video Production Program "Connect & Create NOBEOKA 2026" Begins Accepting Applications for Creators! This Year, 10 Teams Will Be Selected Regardless of Vertical or Horizontal Format.

Sewn General Incorporated Association (Representative Directors: Yoshiyuki Date, Makoto Nagai) is supporting "Connect & Create NOBEOKA (ConeCuri Nobeoka)," a residency production program set in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Applications for the 2026 program will open on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

This program is organized and operated by Cable Media Waiwai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture, President: Tatsuya Fukuda), with Sewn General Incorporated Association participating as a support partner.

"Connect & Create NOBEOKA" is a residency-style program where directors and filmmakers stay in Nobeoka, interact with local people, landscapes, culture, and daily life, and create video works.

For the 2026 program, we are updating from the previous focus on vertical short films to a program that embraces both vertical and horizontal formats, exploring the possibilities of film and video works themselves.

Furthermore, this year, acclaimed film director and producer Yukihiko Tsutsumi, known for works such as "Ikebukuro West Gate Park," "TRICK," "SPEC," and "20th Century Boys," will visit Nobeoka to engage in dialogue with the participating directors and filmmakers.

This year's theme is "Short Hopes." In an era of uncertainty, the program aims to capture and express "small hopes" that arise from interactions with people, landscapes, and bodily sensations during a residency in Nobeoka.

ConeCuri Nobeoka 2026 Application Page

Application Deadline | Sunday, August 16, 2026, 23:59

Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/conecuri_nobeoka/

In an era where anyone can shoot video. Where, what, and with whom will you create?

In this era, anyone can shoot, edit, and distribute video with just a smartphone. The spread of AI and social media has greatly expanded the possibilities of video expression.

However, precisely because it is an era where anyone can easily create videos, what is truly being questioned is not just technology or format.

Where, what, and with whom will you create? What kind of place will you immerse yourself in, what kind of people will you meet, and what will you confront as you bring your work to life?

ConeCuri Nobeoka is not merely a video production support or location scouting service, but a program that provides an environment for creators themselves to confront the act of "creation."

Connect & Create NOBEOKA 2026 teaser movie

Design by Ikuho Tamura | Sound by Shoya Maruyama

What is ConeCuri Nobeoka?

Connect & Create NOBEOKA is a residency-style program where directors and filmmakers from across Japan and overseas gather in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and create works while staying in the city.

Since its launch in 2023, creators have stayed in Nobeoka, interacting with local people, landscapes, culture, and daily life to produce video works.

To date, 54 video works have been created from Nobeoka. The cumulative number of views for related works has exceeded 20 million, with over 900 people involved in citizen appearances and location support, and filming locations spanning over 60 sites.

Shopping streets, supermarkets, schools, public facilities, the sea, mountains, rivers. The entire city of Nobeoka has gradually been nurtured as a place to support video production.

In 2026, building on the relationships and production environment cultivated with the community so far, we will be recruiting participating creators for both vertical and horizontal divisions.

2026 Theme "Short Hopes"

In an era of uncertainty, As if finding a small light.

Through a residency in Nobeoka, Capture and express the modest hopes that arise from people, landscapes, and bodily sensations.

Each work, though a small fragment, Will eventually form the continuation of a larger story.

"Short Hopes" is a theme for expressing,

Within the format of short films,

The creator's own perspective and the small hopes born from the land.

Yukihiko Tsutsumi to Visit Nobeoka and Hold Dialogue Sessions with Selected Directors and Filmmakers

Yukihiko Tsutsumi has been a leading figure in the industry for many years, working across genres and media including TV dramas, films, music videos, and stage productions. His representative works include "Ikebukuro West Gate Park," "TRICK," "SPEC," and the "20th Century Boys" series.

This time, Yukihiko Tsutsumi will visit Nobeoka as a director, spending time with the selected directors and filmmakers during the program and engaging in dialogue about their works and creative processes.

We believe that meeting and conversing with directors and filmmakers who have different experiences and perspectives will be a valuable opportunity for participating creators to re-examine their own expressions.

Yukihiko Tsutsumi

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1955. He has directed 60 films and has been active in a wide range of fields, including television dramas, music videos, and stage productions. In 1988, he made his directorial debut with "What About English?" from the omnibus film "Bakayarou! I'm Angry." Major works include the "TRICK The Movie" series (02-14), "The Memory of Tomorrow" (06), the "20th Century Boys Trilogy" (08-09), and the "SPEC The Movie" series (12-13). In 2015, he received the 40th Hochi Film Award for Best Director for "Initiation Love" and "The Big Bee." Amidst restrictions on creative activities due to the spread of the coronavirus, he produced the independent film "truth ~The End of a Wicked Funeral~" (22) with colleagues, winning 9 awards at various international film festivals. "THE KILLER GOLDFISH" (25) was invited for screening at 11 international film festivals worldwide. He will serve as the General Director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the "20th Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya)" to be held from September.

Main Support Details

ConeCuri Nobeoka provides support including production, accommodation, and community connections to enable selected creators to focus on their residency production in Nobeoka.

Furthermore, after participating in the program, we create opportunities for future production and activities through connections with external film festivals and video platforms.

Connect Support

Support for connecting with the town and its people

Guided location scouting

Support for obtaining location permits

Introduction of local cast and staff

Exchange events with local residents

Create Support

Support related to work creation

Residency support fund: Up to 100,000 yen per team (for creators outside Miyazaki Prefecture only)

Accommodation arrangements (support for accommodation costs for up to 20 days | for creators outside Miyazaki Prefecture only)

Free use of equipment and space at waiwai PLAY LAB

Dialogue sessions with Yukihiko Tsutsumi on scripts and works

Production support from past ConeCuri award-winning creators, etc.

Online sessions with Yukihiko Tsutsumi during the residency period (planned)

Connections to domestic and international film festivals and video distribution platforms will be provided (planned)

Recruitment Overview

Target Applicants

Approximately 10 video creator teams

Breakdown:

Approximately 5 teams for vertical format works

Approximately 5 teams for horizontal format works

*The number of selected applicants may change depending on the selection status and proposal content.

*Selection will be based on the format of the residency production work.

*Current production style is not a requirement.

*Professional video experience is not required.

*Individuals or teams (up to 5 members) can apply.

*Must be 18 years or older. Students and working professionals are welcome.

*Nationality is not restricted (communication in Japanese is desirable).

Eligibility

Creators outside Miyazaki Prefecture must be able to reside and produce works in Nobeoka City during the residency period (There is no specified minimum number of days for the residency period)

Must be able to participate in the entire duration of the kickoff camp held in Nobeoka in person.

Must be able to participate in the film festival held in Nobeoka in person and present their work.

Production Works

Short movie (within 10 minutes)

Vertical short version video (within 1 minute) to promote the above work

Thumbnail

Promotional poster visual

Genre: Non-documentary

Number of works to be produced: 1 or more

*Production of multiple works is highly welcome! However, only one work will be judged. *Works must not violate public order and morals or broadcast standards.

Awards

Grand Prix

Awarded to the most outstanding work overall, including planning, direction, and completion, from all submitted works. Cable Media Waiwai will provide a commission of 500,000 yen for a new production in Nobeoka.

Excellence Award - Vertical Section -

Awarded to works in the vertical format that demonstrate high quality in visual expression and direction, and excellent experiential design unique to the vertical format.

Excellence Award - Horizontal Section -

Awarded to works in the horizontal format that demonstrate high quality in visual expression and direction.

Nobeoka Award

Awarded to works that most richly express the charm, culture, and human relationships of Nobeoka.

Audience Award

Awarded to the work that receives the most support through audience voting during the screening.

Best Actor Award

Awarded to an actor who delivers a memorable performance in a work.

Schedule

Application Schedule

Application Start: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Application Deadline: Sunday, August 16, 2026, 23:59

Notification of First Round Pass: Thursday, August 20, 2026 (scheduled)

Second Screening & Online Interviews: Monday, August 24, 2026 - Thursday, August 27, 2026 (scheduled)

Announcement of Selection Results: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (scheduled)

Program Schedule

On-site Kickoff Camp: Friday, October 16, 2026 - Sunday, October 18, 2026

Residency Period: Thursday, October 15, 2026 - Tuesday, December 15, 2026 (up to 20 days)

Online Sessions: Early November 2026 (scheduled)

Work Submission Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026, 23:59

Connect & Create NOBEOKA Movie Festival: Saturday, December 12, 2026 - Sunday, December 13, 2026

How to Apply

Please submit the required information and project details through the application form. For application guidelines, terms and conditions, and detailed schedule, please check the official website.

ConeCuri Nobeoka 2026 Application Page

Application Deadline | Sunday, August 16, 2026, 23:59

Past Works

In past ConeCuri Nobeoka programs, various video works have been created from the relationships formed with the land and people of Nobeoka.

Happiness Index https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAlk7M9GQYg

Ice Cream Syndrome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xwlOHQe5jE

Perry (Just Dropped In) https://youtu.be/bVCIGyWqX1U?si=H-t2kWtvSVpZ-6Ke

Past works have been selected and awarded at domestic and international film festivals, including the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. ConeCuri Nobeoka aims not to confine works created in Nobeoka within the region, but to connect them to film festivals and video culture platforms both domestically and internationally.

Connect & Create NOBEOKA Operational Structure

Connect & Create NOBEOKA is a residency program where video creators and the local community meet and create works together, set in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Through video, we aim to rediscover the landscapes, culture, and human activities of Nobeoka, and to unlock the creative potential of the creators and the possibilities of the region.

Organizer & Operation

Cable Media Waiwai Co., Ltd.

Support Partner

Sewn General Incorporated Association

ConeCuri Nobeoka Administrative Office

Taro Dogo, Teppei Mera, Takuro Yamamato, Miki Saho, Honoka Yamashita, Daiki Sagawa, Kosuke Matsuda, Satomi Sato, Kento Kai Yoshiyuki Date, Tsubasa Kikuchi, Taro Ehara, Kazuma Kawaguchi, and others

Inquiries

Connect & Create NOBEOKA Secretariat Email:

connect.and.create.nobeoka@gmail.com

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conecuri_nobeoka/