The International Auto Film Festa (IAFF) is gearing up for its third year and is calling for entries from filmmakers worldwide, including those from New Zealand. The festival, founded by Yoshiyuki Shimizu in Japan, celebrates automotive-themed films in all forms, from commercials and music videos to documentaries and independent productions.
Last year's winner was "Gears & Dunes" a documentary about "adults chasing their childhood dreams racing through the sand dunes in their own machines" on an event that follows the early Paris-Dakar Rally route.
Submissions for this year's event opened on January 1, 2025, and close on February 28, 2025. The festival is free to enter and welcomes films up to 15 minutes in length, completed after January 1, 2024.
New Zealand filmmakers have a chance to showcase their work to a global audience and impress an international judging panel, which includes Shimizu, former F1 racing driver Ukyo Katayama, and international automotive journalists like Peter Lyon (Australia), Jaclyn Trop (USA), Shinichiro Ehara (Japan) and Mike Rutherford (UK), as well as the director of last year's winner, Mario Bock from Portugal.
For those interested in submitting their work, the IAFF offers multiple channels, including the FilmFreeway and Festhome websites, or via the festival's official website, which also provides detailed submission guidelines. The IAFF encourages submissions from individuals, groups, and companies of all nationalities and ages, as long as the film revolves around cars.
The IAFF 2025 Award Party will be held on April 26, 2025, at AXIX Gallery in Tokyo, co-hosted by Le Garage.
For updates and further information, follow IAFF on social media platforms like X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
