Cinema Plot Competition is a unique project organized by United Cinema Co., Ltd., a Sumitomo Corporation associated company that operates 21 multi-theater cinema complexes throughout Japan. The competition calls for proposals for original film plots in the form of a central theme and rough storyline of between 800 to 4,000 Japanese characters long. Proposals on any original theme are encouraged.

Since its launch in 2006, the project has attracted an increasing number of entrants, with 743 proposals received from across the nation this year. United Cinema's planning and organizing director, Satoru Tabei, who is in charge of running the competition, suggests a couple of reasons for the growing interest: "A summary of at least 800 characters is not a very difficult requirement [and] some people may be interested in submitting because they know their ideas will be judged by professional film directors and producers." Referring to the requirement that the story be set in one of the 21 towns or cities where the United Cinema complexes are located, Tabei emphasizes the company's focus on creating bonds with local communities: "We hope that [when the film based on the winning entry is made] local residents will feel a closer connection to the world of cinema and that their appreciation of film will grow when they see location shooting and everything else that goes on taking place in their communities."

The award winners were announced November 27 at a gathering held at United Cinema Toyosu. Azusa Kodama, the grand prize winner, expressed her excitement at being chosen with the words, "I am delighted. It's a real buzz knowing people have read my work and found it interesting."

United Cinema is seeking to expand the Cinema Plot Competition with the aim of discovering new talent and opening the door into a career in filmmaking, as well as broadening the audience base for movies.