Short film 'CITIZENs – The Choice Not to Fight' Achieves 'Triple Seven'. Solid Response in Japanese Theaters Following Acclaim at Overseas Film Festivals. Next Screening at Umizora Film Festival on April 25 (Sat)!

Achieving the 'Triple Seven'—satisfying three conditions simultaneously: over 70% audience mobilization rate, over 70% questionnaire collection rate, and a work evaluation of 7 or higher. The short film 'CITIZENs - The Choice Not to Fight,' which has attracted attention at the Tropea Film Festival and the Monaco International Film Festival, has generated a solid response during its theatrical screening at Kineca Omori.

Produced by Film Japanesque and co-produced by Deep Emotion Co., Ltd. and Yotera Yotera Co., Ltd., the short film 'CITIZENs - The Choice Not to Fight' (Directed and written by Yasushi Furuichi) achieved the 'Triple Seven' at its screening during the 3rd Gene Theater Stadium held at Kineca Omori, Tokyo, from February 20 to February 26.

The 'Triple Seven' at the Gene Theater Stadium refers to meeting all three conditions: an audience mobilization rate of 70% or more, a questionnaire collection rate of 70% or more, and a work evaluation of 7 or higher.

How much of the seating was filled, how much action it led to after viewing, and how highly the work itself was received. While the entire experience including before and after the screening was tested, 'CITIZENs - The Choice Not to Fight' cleared all three conditions simultaneously.

Through this work, Director Furuichi looks at the question of whether we can still regain the 'citizen's perspective' even in the midst of conflict and division.

In a world where people are swallowed up in dichotomies of friend or foe, winning or losing, right or wrong, can we still regain the sense of 'living as fellow citizens'? This work presents that question directly to the audience. Achieving the 'Triple Seven' this time shows that this questioning reached the hearts of audiences not only in the special venue of a film festival but also in Japanese commercial theaters.

Such questioning in this work has garnered much praise at overseas film festivals, winning three awards including Best International Short Film at the Tropea Film Festival held in Italy in 2025. It also received multiple awards, including the Angel Film Award, at the Monaco International Film Festival (2025).

And now, following the screening at Kineca Omori, it has been decided that 'CITIZENs - The Choice Not to Fight' will be screened as a sub-event at the 'Umizora Film Festival' held in Awajishima.

The 'Umizora Film Festival' is known as a rare film festival nationwide where viewers can enjoy movies from a sandy beach with a giant screen floating on the sea.