The Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (Japan) is accepting documentaries until April 15, 2027.

About the festival:
Located in a verdant, rolling valley far north of Tokyo, Yamagata City is the site for Asia’s first international documentary film festival. The first Film Festival (in 1989) was an event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Yamagata City, the sponsor of the festival at the time, and has been held biennially ever since in Yamagata’s best season, October.

General Rules:
– An online screener link must be provided on the entry form. They recommend using online video streaming platforms such as Vimeo or YouTube.
– The work may also be submitted on DVD by sending two DVD copies of the film (region 0 / DVD-Video format). Blu-ray disk is not acceptable.
– Entrants are required to submit the completed online entry form on the YIDFF website.

International Competition Eligibility:
– Accepts docs from all over the world over 40 minutes.
– The final form of the work is 16mm or 35mm film print, or video/digital format (DCP, Blu-ray, video files etc).
– The work has not been released publicly in Japan (screenings in theaters or TV broadcast) prior to being presented at YIDFF 2027. Japanese films are exempt from this rule.
– Docs must have been completed after April 1, 2025.
– Short documentaries will not be accepted.

New Asian Currents Eligibility:
– For up-and-coming Asian documentary filmmakers.
– Directors must be from or living in Asia.
– There are NO restrictions on format (film or video/digital), length of work, or style.

Submission Fees: $ 1000 yens | $ 7 USD
Deadlines:
* For works completed before October 31, 2026 – December 15, 2026
* For works completed before November 1, 2026 – April 15, 2027
The registration is considered complete once the entry fee has been received by the Festival by each submission deadline.

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://www.yidff.jp/2027/entry/27entry1-e.html

To submit to the festival please visit: https://www.yidff.jp/2027/entry/27entry2-e.html

We remind readers that the 20th Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival will take place from October 7 – 14, 2027 in Yamagata, Japan.

Looking for a festival distributor? Learn more about our services here

To see other Calls please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.