Nippon Direct Sales Presents: Short Drama Project Contest by AYET Project, Held on Creator Platform LIFE LOG BOX at SSFF & ASIA

SSFF & ASIA and the WEB3.0 creator platform LIFE LOG BOX provide support! The International Short Film Festival, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (hereafter, SSFF & ASIA), has teamed up with Nippon Direct Sales Co., Ltd., a company that has transformed from a general mail-order business into a comprehensive service (WEB3.0) company focusing on entertainment, global, and DX. Together, they will hold a pitch contest to solicit short drama projects from around the world. At the SSFF & ASIA 2026 Award Ceremony to be held on June 10, Nippon Direct Sales' Representative Director, Akiyoshi Mizutani, along with AYET Project Ambassador Kumi Sasaki and Nippon Direct Sales official ambassadors Hayato Aoyama and Masami Shiota of the Showa Kayo & Pop group 'SHOW-WA', will announce the details of the 'Short Drama Project Contest'. The 'Short Drama Project Contest' is an initiative by the AYET Project* and Nippon Direct Sales to fund the creation of video works and aim for the global dissemination of original IP. It will broadly solicit related projects from creators worldwide. SSFF & ASIA will leverage its expertise as an international film festival, and the WEB3.0 creator platform LIFE LOG BOX will strongly support this endeavor. Furthermore, the contest winner will be given the opportunity to participate in the production of a short drama with a budget of 10 million yen, aiming to complete the work alongside Mr. Yasushi Akimoto and professional editors. Upon the work's release, the winner will receive credit as the original project planner and royalties from commercial profits. The issuance of a blockchain-based participation certificate (VC) is also planned. Details will be announced at the award ceremony on June 10 and through subsequent press releases. * What is the AYET Project? This 'Short Drama Project Contest' is conducted as part of the AYET (AKIMOTO YASUSHI ENTERTAINMENT TOKEN) project, which involves the UCLA blockchain development team and Nippon Direct Sales Co., Ltd., with Mr. Yasushi Akimoto invited as a key figure. The AYET Project plans to issue 'AYET', a cryptocurrency specialized for entertainment. It aims to issue a utility token, not just a fan token, that can be used as a means of purchasing products on Nippon Direct Sales' e-commerce site, as well as for event benefits and participation rights, with the goal of building a global economic zone. SSFF & ASIA supports the 'Short Drama Project Contest', which fully supports promising video creators! We look forward to many applications! This short drama project contest is a new challenge to realize the ideas of promising video creators, disseminate them globally, and connect them to commercial returns. We are not just soliciting works; we aim to discover talent from the planning stage, work with general producer Yasushi Akimoto to elevate the content to a global level, and ultimately nurture it as an original IP. By combining the expertise of the international film festival SSFF & ASIA and the WEB3.0 creator platform 'LIFE LOG BOX' with the AYET Project, we will work to create a system where creators can continue to take on challenges. As an Academy Award®-qualifying international short film festival, with the George Lucas Award as its pinnacle, we have gathered the world's short films here in Japan and exhibited the future map of cinema. We are very pleased to start this short drama project contest, which will contribute to the career development of video creators, through this new project with Nippon Direct Sales. In particular, by using innovative mechanisms such as WEB3, blockchain, and tokens, and in collaboration with our LIFE LOG BOX, we will expand the possibilities for video creators. We look forward to the world converging in Japan through short films in this contest supervised by the globally expanding AYET and Mr. Yasushi Akimoto. [Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026 Overview] ■ Event Period: Monday, May 25: Opening Ceremony Tuesday, May 26 – Tuesday, June 9: Tokyo Venue Wednesday, June 10: Award Ceremony *Online venue: Monday, May 25 – Tuesday, June 30 (Programs available for streaming vary by period.) ■ Screening Venues: MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives (Box1000, Tatami, Park Terrace) Akasaka Intercity Conference, Euro Live, WITH HARAJUKU HALL, LIFORK HARAJUKU, and others *Periods and programs vary by venue. ■ Tickets: [Advance] General: 1,500 yen, University Student/U29/Senior/Disabled Discount: 1,200 yen Elementary, Junior High, High School Students: 1,000 yen, Children under elementary school age: Free [Same-day] General: 1,800 yen, University Student/U29/Senior/Disabled Discount: 1,500 yen Elementary, Junior High, High School Students: 1,300 yen, Children under elementary school age: Free [Passport] General: 7,000 yen, Student/Senior/Disabled Discount: 5,500 yen [Online Venue] 2,500 yen (Domestic Japan) / 15 USD (Outside Japan) *Online venue passports go on sale from 5/25. ■ General Inquiries: info@shortshorts.org ■ Official Website: https://www.shortshorts.org/2026 ■ Organized by: Short Shorts Executive Committee / Short Shorts Asia Executive Committee