TYO's young talents recognized worldwide ── The Challenges and Leaps Forward of Our Directors, Including the Fabulous Five

ADFEST’s Short Film Competition “Fabulous Five” is known as a gateway for young commercial directors. TYO’s directors have achieved award after award on this stage, carving their names into the global landscape.
This article introduces the achievements of young directors, starting with the Fabulous Five.

The Achievements of TYO Directors

TYO first made a name for itself at this award in 2015. It began when director Tomoya Hisaya (then at TYO, now a freelance video director) won the COMMENDATION (highest award) for ‘SWEET GANG’.
The following year, 2016, saw Erika Kaneno and Narumi Muranaka simultaneously selected for the Fabulous Four (the name at the time), with Kaneno receiving the COMMENDATION. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the award was renamed the “Fabulous Five” in 2023, with Yuriko Minami being selected. Then, in 2024, Ryotaro Nishi achieved the remarkable feat of winning both the COMMENDATION and the POPULAR VOTE (Audience Award). Then in 2025, Mika Sasaki received the COMMENDATION award, continuing the impressive run of young directors.
Each work has been highly praised for its dramatic quality and the sophistication of its visual expression, earning honors not only from the Fabulous Five but also at various awards both domestically and internationally.

From left: Narumi Muranaka, Erika Konno, Yuriko Minami, Ryotaro Nishi, Mika Sasaki

Background of the Challenge

At TYO, we provide an environment where young directors can challenge themselves to create works that express their unique vision.
Wataru Sato, captain of the creative collective “WHOAREYOU,” expanded his horizons after winning the Young Director Award in 2011 and is now actively involved in nurturing new talent.
TYO will continue its efforts to help young creators, armed with inimitable individuality and sensibilities honed on the job, spread their wings and take flight onto the global stage.
・WHOAREYOU Brand Page　https://tyo.co.jp/en/whoareyou/

Award-Winning Works

Mika Sasaki ‘IM PERFECTION’

・ADFEST 2025 / NEW DIRECTOR LOTUS / Fabulous Five / COMMENDATION (Highest Award)
・Young Director Award 2025 / Short Film Category / Shortlist
・Los Angeles International Short Film Festival Screening

(Trailer)

Mika Sasaki Profile Page　https://tyo.co.jp/en/people/mika-sasaki/

Ryotaro Nishi, ‘Upside-Down Genius’

・ADFEST 2024 / NEW DIRECTOR LOTUS / Fabulous Five / COMMENDATION (Grand Prize) & POPULAR VOTE (Audience Award)
・6th Cyclope Asia / NEW TALENT IN DIRECTION Winner (Grand Prize)
・Los Angeles International Short Film Festival / Best Experimental Film
・SSFF & ASIA 2025 / Live Action Category Japan Excellence Award / Tokyo Governor’s Award [98th Academy Awards Nomination Candidate]
・Young Director Award 2024 / Short Film Category Shortlist
・8th Shibuya Sasebo TANPEN Film Festival / Golden Burger Award, Director Award, Sasebo Base Award
・Official Selection, 19th Sapporo International Short Film Festival (SAPPORO SHORT FEST 2024)
・Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival / International Short Film Competition Section / Selected
・Tsukuba Short Movie Competition 2025 / Grand Prix
・Screening, 25th Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival

(Trailer)

Ryotaro Nishi Profile Page　https://tyo.co.jp/en/people/ryotaro-nishi/

Minami Yuriko: ESCAPE LOCKERS

・ADFEST 2020 / NEW DIRECTOR LOTUS / Fabulous Five Selection
・Young Director Award 2023 / Short Film Category / Shortlist

(Main Story)

Minami Yuriko Profile Page　https://tyo.co.jp/en/people/yuriko-minami/

Erika Konno ‘Brushing UP’

・ADFEST 2016 / NEW DIRECTOR LOTUS / Fabulous Five / COMMENDATION (Highest Award)

(Main Story)

Erika Konno Profile Page　https://tyo.co.jp/en/people/erika-konno/

Narumi Muranaka ‘Beautiful Lie’

・ADFEST 2016 / NEW DIRECTOR LOTUS / Fabulous Five Selection
・Young Director Award 2016 / Short Film Category / Shortlist

(Main Story)

Narumi Muranaka Profile Page　https://tyo.co.jp/en/people/narumi-muranaka/

The Fabulous Four

The “Fabulous Five” is a competition session held by the Asia Pacific Advertising Festival (commonly known as ADFEST), serving as a gateway for young commercial directors across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Beginning in 2008 as the “Fabulous Four,” it was revamped in 2019 to select five directors, reflecting the remarkable success of past winners, resulting in its current format.
The competition solicits scripts for short films under five minutes based on a given theme. A jury then selects five directors to actually produce their films. The five works are screened on stage at the festival, and one of the directors receives the top prize, the “COMMENDATION.”

About TYO Inc.

TYO is a production company specializing in strategic planning, conceptualization, and production of communication content, primarily advertising videos. We produce over 1,000 television commercials and online videos annually. With approximately 300 employees, including 85 producers, we boast one of the largest scales in Japan’s video production industry.
Our mission is to “continue creating compelling content that resonates, transcending boundaries with the best production team.” We strive daily to produce videos that move people, aiming for a society where diverse values can coexist.

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The Achievements of TYO Directors

Background of the Challenge