SAMANSA's original label SSTRUCK has three festival selections for the short 'Idols' going into fall 2026, and its catalog continues to expand weekly. The service, which offers over 500 short films for 490 yen per month, also sells apparel and goods with royalties to creators.
SAMANSA operates a short-film streaming service with a catalog of over 500 titles at 490 yen per month, and adds new films weekly. Its most recent addition came on Friday, August 21, 2026, when four shorts spanning comedy, drama, and horror joined the lineup, from past problematic comedies to Academy Award-nominated animation.
The bigger story is the original label SSTRUCK, whose films now travel festival circuits. 'Idols,' a 19-minute 49-second short starring Hojo Shin, was nominated for the International Feature Film Competition at the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. By September 2026 it had been selected for three festival programs: Beyond Fest 2026's 'Beyond Shorts: Mind Games' in Los Angeles, the Official Fantastic Competition at the 59th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, and the Short Film Competition Section at the YAMI International Film Festival. Matt Halsall directed.
A second SSTRUCK title, 'THE KEEPER,' was selected for the BlackStar Film Festival and the Telluride Horror Show. The 23-minute horror film is co-directed by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes and adapts their graphic novel, starring Jonelle Allen and Jolyne Kanama. BlackStar is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, so a win there would make the film eligible for an Oscar nomination.
Alongside the festival push, SAMANSA started selling apparel and goods. The collection has 20 items including a glass mug, drip coffee made with Sanbon Coffee, a big tote bag, and a clapperboard-shaped keychain, with made-to-order T-shirts for three works available until June 30. A portion of sales goes to creators as royalties.
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Sep 16
SAMANSA Inc. announced that 'Idols,' a short film from its original label SSTRUCK, has been selected for three festivals. It will screen in the 'Beyond Shorts: Mind Games' program at Beyond Fest 2026 in Los Angeles, in the Official Fantastic Competition at the 59th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, and in the Short Film Competition Section at the YAMI International Film Festival. Directed by Matt Halsall and starring Hojo Shin, it runs 19 minutes 49 seconds.
Aug 28
SAMANSA Inc. began distributing four short films on its SAMANSA service on Friday, August 21, 2026. The lineup spans comedy, drama, and horror, ranging from past problematic comedies that made staff laugh to Academy Award-nominated animations that swept theaters. The service offers over 500 short films for 490 yen per month.
Jul 17
SAMANSA's original short film 'THE KEEPER' has been selected for the BlackStar Film Festival and the Telluride Horror Show. The 23-minute horror film, co-directed by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, is an adaptation of their graphic novel. BlackStar is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, making the film eligible for Oscar nomination if it wins the short film award. The Telluride Horror Show is a leading North American genre festival. The film stars Jonelle Allen and Jolyne Kanama.
Jun 5
SAMANSA's original label SSTRUCK announced that its short film 'Idols' has been nominated for the International Feature Film Competition at the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival, held in Montreal, Canada. The film stars Shin Hojo in a dual role as a struggling singer and her doppelgänger movie star.
Jun 3
SAMANSA, a streaming service specializing in short films, has started selling apparel and goods. The collection features 20 items including a glass mug, drip coffee in collaboration with Sanbon Coffee, a big tote bag, and a clapperboard-shaped keychain. Made-to-order T-shirts for three works are available until June 30. A portion of sales goes to creators as royalties.