Visual EXPO 2026 Honors Innovation in Storytelling and Digital Presence

The Public Impact Award goes to Japanese band SEKAI NO OWARI for their 15th-anniversary dome tour, "THE CINEMA." By transforming a concert venue into the world's largest movie theater, the group integrated custom short films with live performance to draw a massive crowd of 180,000 fans. The project serves as a blueprint for how musical acts can leverage cinematic production to deepen fan engagement.

Simultaneously, the New Vision Award recognizes two distinct approaches to modern visual storytelling. Microsoft’s "Doppelmode," directed by Mackenzie Sheppard, highlights human reality through intricate choreography involving 25 sets of twins. In contrast, The RealReal’s "L'Ultimo Uomo Reale," helmed by Sebastian Strasser and Niklas Weise, uses AI to explore themes of authenticity in a surreal future. These winning projects underscore the tension between tangible human performance and the rise of synthetic media.

Beyond these honors, the event is spotlighting the evolution of digital influence through the Personal Branding Award. Five Japanese creators, including multilingual influencer Kazu Languages and dancer KELO, have been nominated for their ability to cultivate unique, world-building narratives on social media. The full slate of winners, including the Branded Shorts of the Year and the HR Best Short Award, will be announced on September 29 at the Akasaka Intercity Conference in Tokyo.