The Tokyo Horror Film Festival’s 2026 short program showcased a wide range of tones and styles, from gnarly found-footage pieces to lovingly crafted Euro-horror homages. Coverage singled out several standout entries that represent the breadth of contemporary short-form genre work.
Standout shorts
- A Última Fita — Written and directed by Caroline Adrielli. A getaway among friends turns nightmarish when they uncover a cache of VHS tapes and a camcorder; the short mines the found-tape subgenre with mean-spirited creativity and a proof-of-concept energy.
- They Rose From the Grave and It Was… The Apocalypse! — Written and directed by Domenico Montixi; music by Fulci. A past attempt to open hell in 1880 intersects with a modern, accidental resurrection. The film leans into 1970s–80s Euro-horror aesthetics with notable practical effects and a vibrant score.
- Gosei — Written and directed by Dani Alías. A compact piece of techno-horror examining quotidian monotony and the costs of over-efficient technological revolutions; the short hints at a larger universe while remaining deliberately ambiguous.
- 3:03 AM — Written and directed by Koya Denton; creature design and SFX by Suzi Battersby (BadGirlFX). Following Michelle (Ibinabo Jack) as she encounters a strange noise during a late-night cartoon, the film reveals its creature in brief, effective bursts and showcases strong practical design.
- Very Prosperous Men — Written by Josh Oakley and Josiah Walker; directed by Josiah Walker. Set in the 1960s, this period short follows a trainee bible salesman (Dustin Ingram) whose misfortune prompts questions of faith and violence; praised for production design, character work and darkly comic edges.
- Tasty Bones — Written and directed by Ronald Short; creature design by Eugene Ferrer III and Other Side Prints. A woodland outing between friends is upended by a small but deadly creature whose design blends menace and unexpected charm.
- Room 404 — Written and directed by Itsuki Kadota. A motel front-desk worker responds to a wellness check and discovers something that changes her perspective; described as both brutal and emotionally affecting.
- Prey Kill Fuck Repeat — Written and directed by Rauli Ylitalo. A woman on the run from violent attackers encounters a reversal of fortune that resolves in a divisive but satisfying finale.
- Necrosectos — Written and directed by Javier Lozano Sánchez. A home is overrun by tiny insects in a project notable for its personal backstory, the filmmaker’s VFX work and the casting of his mother after his father passed away.
These shorts illustrate the festival’s appetite for practical effects, bold tonal choices and concise world-building. For those following contemporary short-form horror, the program offered several pieces that could act as proof-of-concept work for larger projects or showcase-ready festival shorts.
Source: Horror Press — The Short Films of Tokyo Horror Film Festival 2026