The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) runs October 26 to November 4, led by Festival Director Takeo Hisamatsu and Programming Director Shozo Ichiyama, aiming to balance Japanese screenings with international premieres to elevate Japan’s global film profile.

TIFF intends to serve as a launchpad for international films in Japan, leveraging momentum from Japanese franchise hits and arthouse titles at major festivals to attract global attention and Hollywood interest.

Japan-Europe co-productions continue to grow, with notable projects like Sleep No More, Ria, Trinity, and Diamonds In The Sand illustrating expanding cross-border collaborations.

The main competition jury features figures such as Australian director Rolf de Heer, with attendance from industry leaders and award recipients, signaling strong industry engagement.

The Tokyo Gap Financing Market (TGFM) showcases 24 projects with substantial in-place funding from Japan, Canada, Italy, and Brazil, highlighting co-production and grant schemes including Bunka-cho funds.

TIFFCOM programs focus on IP, AI, Japanese TV, Asian series and films, market trends, and co-production, with sessions on unlocking Japanese IP globally and AI in media, plus data on the anime industry.

TIPM (Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake) at TIFFCOM expanded to ten IP holders, connecting Japanese rights holders with international producers and featuring open pitches supported by Imagica Group.

The festival prioritizes new talent through Asian Future and Nippon Cinema Now, and runs Crosscut Asia+ with the Japan Foundation, spanning animation, documentary, live action, and short formats.

Japan’s government-backed IP360 program aims to raise overseas sales of Japanese content to $126 billion by 2033, signaling a strategic push for IP-driven global revenue.

TIFFCOM leverages Japan as the Cannes ‘Country of Honour’ to strengthen global networks, co-production, and IP across film, anime, games, and music.

TIFFCOM attracted over 4,600 attendees from 46 countries last year, with rising interest in AI and data analytics solutions, underscoring growing international interest in Japanese IP and co-production opportunities.

The festival opens with Sukiyaki and centers on Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus Zero, closing with Yang Sang-ho’s Colony; three Japanese films—The Canary’s Lullaby, Two Cigarettes, Three Nights, and The Intertwining—are in the main competition.