Tokyo Market Eyes Record Numbers as Asia Content Is Focus

TIFFCOM,  the film market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival, is poised to exceed last year’s attendance of 3,851 participants, with visitor registrations already matching 2023’s total ahead of its opening, according to CEO Shiina Yasushi.

The event, which also encompasses the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market and the Tokyo Story Market, has significantly expanded its seminar programming this year, moving from a single venue to three locations and increasing from seven to fifteen sessions. “These sessions will cover the latest trends and success stories across various genres, including film, TV and anime, with a focus on Japan and Asia,” Shiina said.

Key seminars include “Generative A.I. in Cinema: Opportunities, Threats, and the Future Landscape,” discussions on Japanese anime’s future, and sessions featuring major broadcasters’ international content strategies.

Following last year’s $95 million in total deal value, Shiina sees potential for increased business activity. “The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the viewing habits of audiences, accelerating the borderless nature of visual content and expanding the market,” he said. “This has highlighted business models geared toward the global market, and we anticipate that deals will become even more active than last year. The seminar lineup also reflects this trend, featuring sessions on global strategies and strong domestic content from various Asian countries, including Japan. As globalization progresses, Asian countries are each expanding their markets from within their own borders to the broader Asian region. Strengthening their presence within Asia first is a crucial step toward eventually expanding into the global market, including Europe and North America.”

This year’s edition features a special focus on Italy, showcasing five projects – three fiction features and two animated productions – selected by the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Italian Ministry of Culture and Cinecittà. The spotlight follows the August 2024 opening of submissions for co-productions under the Italy-Japan Film Co-Production Agreement.

TIFFCOM will also host Road Pictures, a distributor that has found success with Japanese animation in mainland China, highlighting the potential for Japanese content in international markets. “In advancing the multi-expansion of IP, Japanese animation and other audio-visual works possess significant potential for success in the global market,” Shiina said.

Addressing industry challenges, Shiina emphasized TIFFCOM’s role in industry recovery: “The audio-visual industry faced unprecedented and intense changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the future uncertain. It is crucial to meet with various international players to understand the current landscape, communicate effectively and expand new networks. International markets like TIFFCOM can be positioned as valuable platforms for this purpose,” Shiina said.