Tier 2
Yamagata, Japan
Last verified 3 July 2026
The Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is the first international documentary film festival held in Asia. It takes place every two years in odd-numbered years to commemorate local history while fostering cultural exchange among people from around the world.
Oscar Documentary Short · Documentary Short Subject
Must win the jury award for Best Documentary Short at Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF). Biennial — odd-numbered years only.
The main submission deadline for Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is around 30 April 2027. Confirmed for the current edition.
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is free to submit to. Fees can vary by category and deadline tier, so check the official entry page.
No premiere requirement. Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival accepts films that have screened elsewhere.
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival takes place in Yamagata, Japan.
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is a legitimate, established film festival: it is listed in Circkit's curated, human-vetted festival database, which deliberately excludes known scam festivals and certificate mills; it ranks among the upper tiers of the festival circuit. As with any festival, confirm the current deadline and fee on the official site before you pay. You can also run Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival through Circkit's free Scam Radar for an independent safety check.
Want an independent check? Run Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival through the free Scam Radar.
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