Focus on Africa Program to be held at 2026 Film Festival: Featuring Short Films from Five Countries including Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal

Visual Voice Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Tetsuya Bessho), which operates Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), one of Asia's largest international short film festivals accredited by the Academy Awards, is pleased to announce the start of a strategic collaboration in the visual content field with the Japan Africa Entertainment Business Council (JAEBC), a platform connecting the entertainment industries of Japan and Africa. ■ Background and Objectives of the Collaboration Africa is a region with a population of approximately 1.4 billion and the world's youngest demographic, with a median age of 19. With the spread of smartphones, creative industries such as music, movies, and animation are growing rapidly, making it an extremely important market for Japanese Intellectual Property (IP). SSFF & ASIA has long promoted diverse cultures through short films from around the world. In line with JAEBC's new phase aiming to accelerate the expansion of Japanese IP in the rapidly growing African market, this partnership was established to promote mutual understanding and content distribution between Japan and Africa through visual culture. ■ Main Initiatives Based on this collaboration, we will promote the following measures: 1. Launch of the 'Focus on Africa Program' at SSFF & ASIA 2026 At the international short film festival SSFF & ASIA 2026, which opens on May 25, a special program will be held featuring a series of dramas set in African countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, and Tunisia. URL: https://www.shortshorts.org/2026/program/program_cat/africa/ *Website opens today at 17:00 JST. 'Salt of Our Sea' Director: Nada Bedair / 2025 / 18:38 / USA-Egypt / Drama While on vacation in sunny Alexandria, Leyla quietly watches her parents' marriage crumble. In the tension, her bond with friend Nour gives her a freedom and intimacy she lacks at home. Driven by the sea, salt, and forbidden longings, she begins to walk the precarious line between rebellion, self-discovery, and the awakening of first love. 'Patience (Sabali)' Director: Valentin Guiod / 2025 / 7:17 / Algeria / Music Video 'Sabali' is a word meaning 'patience' and 'eternity.' This work depicts the journey of Moudu, who left his familiar land for a harsh voyage, and his unwavering mental strength. It portrays the long, dangerous journey in secret, the fight for love, and above all, the 'power of endurance' that sustained him. 2. Continuous Cooperative Framework for the Future Beyond one-off events, we will move forward with the following mid-to-long-term considerations: - Consideration of establishing an 'Africa Award (tentative)': A framework to honor outstanding African works. - Permanent African category in the film festival. - Mutual content distribution support via 'LIFE LOG BOX': Supporting the expansion of Japanese works in Africa and the promotion of African content in Japan. ■ Comment from Tetsuya Bessho, President of Visual Voice Inc. (Representative of SSFF & ASIA) 'African short films are hot right now! Over the past few years, we have received many works from across Africa. They are incredibly colorful, high in entertainment quality, and vividly convey the "now" of Africa. Last year, we welcomed Mr. Debo Adedayo from Nigeria as an official juror, further confirming this potential. Through this collaboration with JAEBC, we will transmit the diverse cultures of Africa from Japan to the world. Starting with this year's program, we hope to establish the Africa Award and deepen mutual exchange in talent and technology to map out a new future for the visual industry.'