Hi, this is Izumitani from the Ehime Film Commission (Ehime FC).
After the general meeting and symposium, the final event of the day was the Japan FC Awards ceremony!
This is the only award in Japan that recognizes the outstanding contributions of film commissions (FCs) over the past year. Instead of focusing on the stories of the films themselves, this award evaluates the unique perspectives that only FCs can provide—such as the ripple effects on local communities, the distinctiveness of their support, and the background behind each project.
By sharing best practices from various FCs, this award helps expand and improve Japan’s filming environment. This year marked the 10th edition of the Japan FC Awards—a significant milestone!
As the chair of the Japan FC, here are my comments and overall review of this year’s awards:
SHIGA Film Office
Grand Prize: “Fly Me to the Saitama: From Biwako with Love”
Who would have thought that elements like Tobidashi Tobita (Shiga’s famous pedestrian safety mascot) could make a film even more engaging? And to top it off, a pose suggested by the staff was actually used in the movie!
This project showcased how the Shiga Film Office’s past efforts fostered local pride, gained understanding and support from creators and the community, and even contributed to economic benefits. It’s a fantastic example that other FCs can learn from!
KOBE Film Office
Excellence Awards: “Tatoe Anata wo Wasuretemo”
Turning what was once considered “negative real estate” into a nationally registered tangible cultural property with the support of local residents was an impressive achievement. This project demonstrated how FCs can uncover new cultural and historical assets to promote filming.
HIROSHIMA FilmCommission
Excellence Awards: “Do Not Say Mystery”
By involving a diverse range of people and collaborating for extensive PR efforts, this project became a great example of how FCs can bridge the gap between communities and creators.
NAGASAKI Pref FilmCommission
Excellence Awards: “Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kuretakara”
With over 150 location proposals, this project highlighted the true power of FCs. The high level of cooperation and understanding from the community contributed to enhancing the overall quality of the production.
HAMAMATSU FilmCommission,IBARAKI FilmCommission,SUWAKEN FilmCommission
Excellence Awards: “Godzilla Minus One”
Beyond filming support, this project also excelled in PR collaborations across multiple regions. The originality achieved by working beyond administrative boundaries was something all FCs can take inspiration from!
Final Thoughts:
The expectations and potential for FCs continue to grow every year. Our work may sometimes extend beyond our original scope, but those moments of “stepping outside the box” are where new values, connections, and achievements are born.
Film commissions have always been pioneers in uncharted territory, and I’m excited to see them continue forging new paths. That concludes my review of the 10th Japan FC Awards. I’m looking forward to seeing even more innovative projects next year!