Thursday, March 20, 2025
The 7th edition of the Japan World’s Tourism Film Festival (JWTFF) wrapped up successfully in the city of Maniwa, recognizing outstanding achievements in tourism storytelling through film. Held from March 17 to 19, the event attracted industry professionals from around the world, offering opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing, and honoring exceptional works with prestigious accolades.
This year’s festival showcased entries from 101 countries, and during the Award Ceremony on March 19, over 50 productions were celebrated across various categories in both the National and International Competitions.
Major Awards
The International Grand Prix was awarded to “Falling for Autumn,” a promotional video by Switzerland Tourism, starring Roger Federer alongside Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen. The campaign also garnered the Gold Award in the Tourism Destination Countries category.
Other notable winners in the Tourism Destinations Countries category included the Montenegro National Tourism Organisation, which earned a Gold Award, and the Slovenian Tourism Board and Tourism Uzbekistan, which both received Silver Awards.
In the Regions category, the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia took home two Gold Awards. Meanwhile, Silver Awards went to the Higashikishu Regional Organization (Japan), Kochi Tourism (India), and the Municipalities of Campo de Gibraltar (Spain).
The Cities category saw Gold Awards presented to Sakai (Japan) and Oleiros Municipality (Portugal). Silver Awards were given to Wisła City (Poland), Chiayi City Government (Taiwan), Zagreb Tourism Board (Croatia), and Gois Municipality (Portugal).
In the Tourism Products category, Gold Awards went to Turismo Rias Baixas – Deputación De Pontevedra (Spain), Aaron Nathanson (Japan), and the Slovenian Tourism Board. Silver Awards were bestowed upon Viana Festas (Portugal) and Promperu (Peru).
Finally, in the Tourism Services category, Gold Awards were given to Hilton Kyoto (Japan) and Nuri (Portugal), while Silver Awards were presented to PORTUGALNTN, Lda (Portugal), Amami Islands Council (Japan), and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts (Spain).
The production “Chill Chiayi City,” by the Chiayi City Government (Taiwan), won the Grand Prix in the Asian Competition.
Festival Highlights
In addition to the award ceremonies, the festival offered an enriching program filled with film screenings, masterclasses, and immersive cultural experiences. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions about the future of tourism filmmaking and exchanged insights with global industry leaders.
As a member of the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT) since 2021, JWTFF serves as a prominent platform for filmmakers to gain international recognition. The festival consistently draws submissions from around the globe, cementing its status as a pivotal event in the tourism film sector.
This year’s edition marked the launch of the CIFFT Circuit 2025, the international competition that crowns the World’s Best Tourism Films of the Year.
