EIJI SHIMADA
BIOGRAHPY
Born in 1976 in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan, Eiji is an award-winning independent filmmaker based in Sapporo. Initially studying architecture at Hokkaido University, he later honed his filmmaking skills through a workshop at the University of Southern California (USC). Eiji’s journey in cinema has been marked by significant achievements. His short films have garnered international acclaim, earning prestigious awards such as the Grand Prix for 6PM at the California Independent Film Festival in 2003.
One of his standout works, UNDER THE GINKGO TREES, a beautiful short drama with stunning golden hues, has been screened at film festivals around the world, including the Raindance Film Festival and the Tehran International Short Film Festival. The film also won the award for Best Foreign Film at the Mexico International Film Festival. In 2012, Eiji was selected as one of 24 Asian Filmmakers at the Asian Film Academy (AFA) and participated in co-productions screened at the Busan International Film Festival.
With decades of experience in the film festival industry, Eiji has been serving as the festival director of the Sapporo International Short Film Festival, also known as Sapporo Short Fest (SSF), since 2015. His expertise in the field led to an invitation to serve as an international judge for ShowMeShorts, an Oscar®-qualifying film festival in New Zealand, in 2019.
In addition to his filmmaking career, Eiji is a professor at Hokkaido Information University (HIU), where he teaches filmmaking. Currently, he is preparing for his first feature film.
FILMOGRAHPY
- THE SHEEP AND THE KEY |2015
- PATTAYA IN LOVE |2014
- FAMILY |2014
- AMAZING NUMBERMAN |2012
- POPPING GIRL |2012
- NUMBERMAN IN LOVE |2012
- SCAM |2012
- THE NUMBERMAN THEORY |2011
- THE DOOR |2011
- CRYSTALLIZED |2011
- POTATO MAYONNAISE |2009
- SILENTLAKE |2008
- OMOTENASHI |2008
- UNDER THE GINGKO TREES |2008
- SNOWMAN THEORY |2007
- SILENTLY |2007
- PICNIC1 |2007
- KAMAKURA |2004
- MORNING FORTUNE |2003
- MOOD IN PINK |2003
- THE BOX CITY |2003
- 6PM |2003
- ONE MILLION DOLLARS GOAL |2002
- KUROI KARMA WO TSUNDEYO (VOL.2) |2002
- KUROI KARMA WO TSUNDEYO (VOL.1) |2002
- PENALTY SALMON |2002
- SORROW BOTTLE |2002
- MONSTER |2000
- FULL MOON |2000
- VISITOR |2000
- HANDS |2000
- HOT DOG |2000
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
Amazing Thailand Film Challenge, 2015, Thailand
*Finalist
Sapporo Short Fest, 2012, Japan
Quatro D cinema contest *special award
Sapporo Short Fest, 2012, Japan
Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest, 2012, Thailand
*Amazing Finalist Award (Honorable Mention)
*Best Actor
Bangkok Post 9FilmFest, 2011, Thailand
*Best Short Film (Grandprix)
*Best Actor
Sapporo Short Fest, 2011, Japan
*Amino Up Hokkaido New Director Award
*Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Award
Corto Cinema in Bra, 2009, Italy
Sapporo Short Fest, 2009, Japan
Sapporo Short Fest 2008, Japan
Cinemabiente Environmental Film Festival, 2008, Italy
California Independent Film Festival 2009, USA
Bolzano Short Film Festival, 2008, Italy
CLSA FILM CONTEST,
*Finalist (5th place)
Mexico International Film Festival, 2009, Mexico
*Golden Palm Award Winner “Best Foreign Short”
Pleiades Film Festival 2008,
*Finalist for Best National Short
Raindance Film Festival 2008, UK
ISFF Desmold, 2008, Germany
shnit open 2008, Switzerland
Tehran International Film Festival, 2008, Iran
Ahmedabad International Film Festival, 2009, India
Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia 2008, Japan
10 or less Film Festival, Portland, USA
Heart of Gold International Film Festival, Australia
Sapporo Short Fest 2007, Japan
Osian’s Cinefan, 2007, India
California Independent Film Festival 2005, USA
Short Shorts Film Festival 2005 in Hokkaido, Japan
Short Shorts Film Festival 2003 in Hokkaido, Japan
California Independent Film Festival 2003, USA
Rencontres Audeio Visuelles 2004, France
California Independent Film Festival 2003, USA,
*Slate award 2003 WINNER “Best minishort”
San Francisco World Film Festival and Marketplace 2003, USA
Rencontres Audio Visuelles 2004, France
Short Shorts Film Festival 2004 in Hokkaido, Japan
Danville International Children’s Film Festival, USA,
*Finalist for Best minishort award
6th Fukui Indies Film Festival, Japan,
*Audience Award
California Independent Film Festival 2003Cinequest Film Festival, San Jose 2003, USA
5th Fukui Indies Film Festival, JAPAN,
*Audience Award
Tambay Film and Video Festival 2001, Florida, USA
Asia Independent Film Festival 2001, Japan
American Short Shorts Film Festival 2001, Japan
4th Indies Movie Festival, JAPAN
American Short Shorts Film Festival 2001 in Singapore
Busan Asian Short Film Festival 2002, South Korea
Sao Paolo International Short Film Festival 2002, Brazil
Short Shorts Film Festival EXPO 2005, Japan