New HAM Competition Launched & Selected Films Announced!
New HAM Competition for Japanese Works Launched & Selected Films Announced!
Hiroshima Animation Season 2026 (HAS) received 3,181 submissions from 110 countries and regions around the world. Among them, the number and quality of works submitted from Japan were particularly remarkable. As many outstanding Japanese films were unfortunately not selected for the main competition, we have decided to establish a new competition dedicated to Japanese works within the Hiroshima Animation Academy & Meeting (HAM), held alongside the festival.
The new competition, titled the HAM Competition, was curated and selected by HAS Producer Nobuaki Doi. Selected works were confirmed with the consent of the filmmakers and do not overlap with the official HAS Competition selections.
During the festival, an international jury will evaluate the films and award one HAM Competition Grand Prix as well as three category awards, one for each section.
A total of 31 films have been selected across three categories: HAM STAR, HAM HAM, and HAM TALENT.
HAM STAR
This section showcases works with solid storytelling that strike audiences with the intensity of a shining star. The international jury will select the Best HAM STAR Award.
HAM HAM
This section highlights offbeat works distinguished by their unique sense of humor. The international jury will select the Best HAM HAM Award.
Eight films have been selected, including Atsushi Wada’s Little Boarlet and Hattori-Graphics’s Japanese Time-Saving Folktales.
HAM TALENT
This section focuses on student works that demonstrate unique artistic approaches and exceptional future potential. The international jury will select the Best HAM TALENT Award.
Sixteen films have been selected from students of Nihon University, Tama Art University, Musashino Art University, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo Polytechnic University, Aichi University of the Arts, HAL Nagoya, Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto University of the Arts, Onomichi City University, Hijiyama University, and others.
The HAM Competition will be judged by Drasko Ivezic (Croatia) and Wang Chi-Sui (Taiwan)
The selected works will be screened and judged during the festival period.
Information on all HAM Competition selections can be found on the ACADEMY & MEETING section of this website.
At Hiroshima Animation Season 2026, many of the selected filmmakers will attend the festival in person, and a variety of talks and networking events are planned. We look forward to welcoming audiences to this exciting new program.