A New Cross-Cultural Experience Turning Preschools into "Movie Theaters" - Asomana World Film Festival

A new program that nurtures children's interest in the world through screenings of international short films, not typically available in Japan, and inquiry-based activities is now available for preschools, kindergartens, and certified child centers nationwide. Think-a-lot Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Kosuke Urushima), which develops international exchange and cross-cultural education programs for preschools and kindergartens, will host the "Asomana World Film Festival 2026," a new program that allows children to encounter different cultures and diverse values by screening international short films for children within their facilities. In this program, international short animations and films will be shown in facilities such as preschools and kindergartens. In addition to film viewing, the program provides educational materials and dialogue activities themed around the countries and cultures featured in the works, aiming to foster children's curiosity to "want to know more" and "want to try it." A participatory film festival enjoyed at school that doesn't just end with "watching." The "Asomana World Film Festival" is not just a program for watching movies. Each film comes with original educational materials that can be used before and after the screening, designed to encompass learning both "before" and "after" watching the movie. Before the screening, children's interest and understanding of the movie are deepened by introducing themes,登場するモノや生き物, and the characteristics and culture of the country where the film is set in an easy-to-understand manner. After the screening, the structure encourages natural sharing of impressions and discussions within the class through questions like "What was fun?", "How do you think the main character felt?", and "Were there any differences from Japan?". The educational materials introduce not only the content of the movie itself but also the culture and life of the country where the work is set. Children can use the movie as a gateway to encounter diverse values and cultures from around the world. A major feature of this program is expanding the "experience of watching a movie" into an "experience of knowing the world." Click here for details and inquiries - Asomana World Film Festival Official Website. International short films scheduled for screening include Crabe-Phare (France), DYR I BY'R (Denmark), and A small garden by the window (South Korea). Six short films that have been acclaimed at international film festivals are planned for adoption. Currently, works from several countries including Denmark, France, and South Korea are being selected, with an emphasis on being intuitive for children to enjoy, having few lines, being easy to understand, easy to empathize with, and short enough (5-20 minutes) to maintain focus. For ease of use at schools, the films will be available for viewing at any time on a dedicated website during the program period, allowing for flexible integration into daily childcare activities. Making opportunities to "touch the world" more accessible from early childhood. In recent years, interest in themes such as "inquiry," "diversity understanding," and "non-cognitive skills" has been growing in early childhood education. However, many in the field express challenges such as "It's difficult to prepare for incorporating cross-cultural education," "There are few materials that naturally pique children's interest," and "We want to nurture an interest in the world, not just English learning." The "Asomana World Film Festival" was planned to address these issues, aiming to naturally expand children's interest in the world through the familiar gateway of "movies." Think-a-lot Inc. will continue to support the development of a global sensibility from early childhood by creating opportunities for children to feel that "learning about the world is fun." "Asomana World Film Festival 2026" Overview: Name: Asomana World Film Festival 2026. Target: Preschools, kindergartens, certified child centers, etc., nationwide. Content: Screening of international short films / Provision of cross-cultural educational materials / Participatory voting projects, etc. Screening format: In-school limited, online streaming format. Organizer: Think-a-lot Inc. Company Profile: Company Name: Think-a-lot Inc. Business: Early childhood cross-cultural education business, international exchange program planning and operation, etc. URL: https://www.tal-entry.com/