Bring my story to the world
“My Drama”
It might even pop up on the backlog of your own smartphone.
You don’t even need deep film knowledge.
Not even acting experience is required.
All we want is one thing: originality.
Turn your unique perspective and bold imagination into drama and
share it with the world.
Your story might just change someone else’s world.
The World Short Drama Awards 2025 supports creators
who dare to dream big and produce exhilarating content.
World Short Drama Awards
2025
judge
Hiroshi Osaki
Yoshimoto Kogyo Career
– Became representative director and president in 2009.
– Appointed chairman in 2019.
– Retired as director in 2023.
– Current Roles
– Member of the Cabinet Secretariat and Cabinet Office committees.
– Advisory roles at Tottori University Hospital and Kindai University.
– Awards and Appointments
– Received Japan Advertising Award and Shoriki Award in March 2023.
– Appointed co-chairman of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in May 2023.
– Representative director of mother ha.ha general incorporated association.
GACKT
– **Music Career**: GACKT began his solo career in 1999 after playing in a band. He has released 48 singles and 19 albums, holding the record for the most top 10 singles by a male solo artist.
– **Versatility**: Known for his diverse skills, including martial arts, snowboarding, horseback riding, and more. He is also an actor in Hollywood and Japanese films, TV dramas, and a voice actor in various media.
– **Philanthropy**: Believes in “pushing people’s backs” and has been involved in surprise live performances at graduation ceremonies for 18 years, along with other charitable activities.
– **Film Success**: Starred in the hit movie “Sho de Saitama,” which grossed over 3.7 billion yen and won multiple awards, including the Outstanding Lead Actor Award at the Japan Academy Awards.
– **Television Influence**: Known for high viewership ratings on TV, he is considered a powerful influencer in the Japanese entertainment industry.
– **Hiatus and Comeback**: Announced a break in September 2021, but returned to his career in May 2022. He planned a tour in March 2023 featuring ballads and medium songs.
– **Popularity**: A survey shows 97% awareness of his music among people aged teens to 60s. His social media following is substantial, with millions of followers across various platforms.
– **Global Reach**: Describes himself as an “expressionist” and maintains a large international fan base, continuing to be active worldwide.
Ryoka Orita
Originally from Hokkaido, she is an influencer with a total of 1.6 million followers on social media.
She was the youngest person to be selected as a member of the “Hokkaido Tourism Support Team,” and has been ranked in the “Generation Z Trend Ranking” for two consecutive halves of the year!
After appearing in a romance reality show, she has expanded the scope of her activities in a variety of areas, appearing on terrestrial television programs and in advertisements for major brands, attracting attention.
Maikithi
He started using TikTok when he was in his first year of junior high school, and has since garnered enthusiastic support from junior and senior high school students nationwide, becoming an influencer with over 2 million followers on social media.
2018 1st TikTok CREATOR AWARDS A notable creator whose multifaceted talents are blossoming as he works in planning, filming, editing, and clothing design.
Maeda Hideyuki
Born in Motobu-cho, Okinawa.
He started playing the sanshin (Okinawan three-stringed instrument) in the third grade of elementary school. 1995: He became the youngest winner of the Grand Prix at the Ryukyu Dynasty Mid-Autumn Party held at Shuri Castle, and started his music career.
2002 Formed the band “Crimson”.
2004 National debut. Included on the album is the song “Island,” which is still sung to this day.
2007 Crimson disbanded.
2007-2012 After the breakup of the band, Hideyuki Maeda
He performed as a solo artist in Tokyo.
2013: Appeared on the international audition program “X Factor OKINAWA JAPAN”.
Formed the vocal group “Sky’s The Limit” and won the Grand Prix.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Nobuhito Arakaki
Born June 16, 1977 in Yonabaru-cho, Okinawa.
Since his childhood, he has been familiar with traditional crafts such as red tiles, pottery, and climbing kilns.
In 2005, he became independent from the family business “Aragaki Tile Factory” and established “Shimanchu Kobo” specializing in “Ryukyu Glass” and “Shisa”.
Currently, together with shisa craftsman Shinichi Aragaki, his wife Natsumi, and their second daughter Tomoyui (currently training at another studio), he is engaged in creating products that carry on the local culture.
Through his online store and blog, he communicates the spiritual culture of Okinawa and the culture of lion statues.
He makes a pilgrimage to Utaki at the end of every month.
In 2024 and 2025, he and his father’s joint work was selected for the Oki Exhibition.
Based on the idea of “from a shisa for protection to a shisa symbolizing peace,” he has expanded his interest in visual expression,
In this award, he will participate in the judging from the viewpoint of connecting art, the community, and the future.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Kazuhiro Taira
Born August 29, 1989 in Okinawa, Japan. Representative director of PROJECT9 LLC.
While in college, he established the independent film team PROJECT9.
After graduation, while working as a store planner at a department store in Okinawa, he directed TV dramas and produced independent films.
After working there for 5 years, he retired and began his full-time career as a filmmaker.
In 2016, he won a special award at the 3rd New Directors Film Festival for his film “The Ballad of the Nail-Biter,” which he directed.
In 2020, he won the Runner-up Prize in the Drama category at the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards for his QAB special drama “The Story of the Kingdom of Panauru”.
In 2020, he won the Runner-up Prize in the Drama Category at the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Awards for his QAB special drama “The Story of the Kingdom of Panaule.
In 2022, “Miracle City Koza,” a film he directed and wrote, will be released in theaters nationwide.
His films in the waiting list are “The Army on the Tree,” starring Shinichi Tsutsumi and Yuki Yamada, and “STEP OUT: Ni Ni Ni no Nirai,” starring Yukie Nakama.
OUT Ni Ni Ni No Niraikanai” (co-director) starring Yukie Nakama.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Entry Guidelines
Name World Short Drama Awards 2025 Presented by Helo
Organizer Okinawa International Cultural Festival
Entry Period
Saturday, February 1, 2025 – Friday, March 14, 2025 (until 23:59)
Eligibility
Individuals aged 13 or older (no restriction on nationality)
Those who can attend the award ceremony or appoint a representative
Minor applicants require parental/guardian consent
Applicants must agree to the contest rules and be able to grant all necessary rights and permissions
Entry Method
Applications are now closed. Thank you very much for your applications.
No submissions by mail or in person will be accepted.
Any work removed without the organizer’s permission will be excluded from consideration.
All expenses related to entry are the responsibility of the applicant.
Selecthion Procrss
-Evaluation by a panel of judges
Submission Requirements
-Must be an original work.
-Any format is acceptable (live-action, animation, CG, etc.).
-Must have a narrative and be at least 1 minute but no more than 10 minutes in total length.
Multiple episodes are allowed as long as the total is under 10 minutes.
-Each person may submit as many works as they wish.
-Must not have restricted view settings on TikTok (must be publicly viewable).
-Must not use third-party content without permission.
-Must not infringe on any third party’s copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights, etc.
-Must not include any defamation, slander, or content in violation of public decency.
-Must not encourage criminal acts.
-Must not violate TikTok’s Terms of Use.
Participation Fee
– Free of charge
Submission Format
– Vertical video (9:16)
Number of Submissions
– There is no limit on the number of submissions, and multiple episodes are allowed.
– However, each submission must not exceed 10 minutes in total length.
Awards
- Grand Prize (1 group)
- Runner-up (1 group)
- Jury Award (1 group)
- Best Director (1 group)
- Best Screenplay (1 group)
- Best Actress (1 group)
- Best Actor (1 group)
All award winners will be honored with the opportunity to walk the red carpet!
Notification
- Social Media: Direct message sent to the account that posted the entry
- Application Form: Email sent to the address provided in the form
Note: If there is no response for more than one week after the organizer’s initial contact, the applicant may forfeit their eligibility for this award.
Award Ceremony
-Scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Okinawa (Naha Cultural Arts Theater “Nahato”: Main Hall).
Please note that the date is subject to change due to organizer circumstances.
-The final results and awards will be presented at the Okinawa International Cultural Festival award ceremony.
If neither the winner nor a representative can attend, the awarded recipient may be subject to change.
Q &A
Questions regarding applications
A : Yes. There are no restrictions on nationality or residence.
A : Yes. Submissions are allowed from individuals, groups, or companies in any format.
A : No. There are no thematic or genre limitations. We welcome freely imagined works.
A : No. If the total runtime exceeds 10 minutes, it is ineligible.
A : As long as the total runtime is within the specified limit, there is no maximum.
Questions about the Work
A : Yes. Live-action, animation, CG, and any other formats are acceptable.
A : Yes. Works previously submitted elsewhere are welcome, provided they do not infringe on any third-party rights.
A : Yes. Previously published works are acceptable, as long as they are still publicly available on TikTok at the time of submission.
Post-Submission Procedures
A : In principle, no. Once your entry is complete, it cannot be withdrawn.
A : Yes. If you remove your work without the organizer’s permission, it will be excluded from the competition.
A : The copyright remains with you. However, by submitting, you grant permission for the work to be used for publicity and promotional purposes, including official websites and social media.
A: Yes, you can apply for works that have already been published, but they must be published on TikTok at the time of application.
Other
- A : You may not use third-party copyrighted materials without permission. Please use free materials that allow commercial use or your own original content.
A : There is no charge to enter. However, any production costs or communication fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
Important Notes
- All costs related to production and entry are borne by the applicant, and no compensation will be provided under any circumstances.
- It does not matter whether the work has been entered in or received awards from other competitions.
- Any work posted outside the official entry period will be disqualified.
- By submitting to this competition, applicants are deemed to have understood and agreed to all contest rules.
- If the submitted work includes any third-party copyrighted materials (music, film, photos, artwork, etc.), applicants must obtain prior permission from the rights holders before submitting.
Any work found to infringe on a third party’s rights without permission will be disqualified; if discovered after awards are announced, the award may be revoked. - The organizer reserves the right to publish submitted entries on TikTok, websites, social media, or other platforms at its discretion.
The organizer may also adjust or partially use the footage when sharing. - The right to produce a short drama (as part of the prize) is an option, not an obligation to produce.
About Helo
Helo is a platform for enjoying the hottest short dramas from across languages and regions.
Designed especially for Japanese audiences, the app is updated daily with fresh releases, and you can see a synopsis of each drama with just one click of the title.
Not only can you bookmark your favorites, but you can also watch many titles for free via the app’s coin feature.
We created Helo with the hope that “every day brings you something fun!”
Short Drama App “Helo” Download here!
For any questions, please contact us via the inquiry form.
Note: It may take some time to receive a response.