Industry veterans gathered at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s (TIFF) annual Motion Picture Association (MPA) seminar to discuss the evolving landscape of filming in Japan and the impact of emerging technologies on global production, with participants highlighting both opportunities and challenges in attracting international projects to the country. Japan’s location incentive scheme, which offers reimbursement […]

Independent Chinese film distributor Road Movies has already tasted success with a succession of imported Japanese animation films. But the company says that China’s youth market is best accessed through a vastly broader strategy that embraces IP, fandom, events, retail and merchandizing. “Our aim is to be a Chinese Disney – not in scale. But […]

The new co-production treaty signed between Japan and Italy is being touted as a significant step towards reintegrating Japan’s film production industry with those overseas countries. The agreement – signed in June and activated in August – was directly referenced on Monday by Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and has colored the programming of this […]

A feature debut exploring The Philippines’ underground punk scene and social activism is participating at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, which is part of the Tokyo International Film Festival’s TIFFCOM market. “Ria,” directed by award-winning short filmmaker Arvin Belarmino, centers on 25-year-old Ria, who lives in a punk commune facing demolition while caring for her diabetic […]

Hong Kong-based sales firm Cappu Films will use TIFFCOM, the rights market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival, to launch world sales activities on two films that were recently at the Busan festival. Psychological thriller “Waterdrop,” was winner of two awards at the Busan festival earlier this month while crime comedy “So It Goes” […]

Youth romance film “She Taught Me Serendipity” which has its world premiere in competition on Tuesday at the Tokyo International Film Festival, has also enjoyed its first overseas rights sales. The film was licensed to South Korea’s NK Entertainment and to France’s Art House. Rights are represented by Tokyo-based Free Stone Productions. A release in […]

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 […]

Hungarian film director Ildiko Enyedi heaped praise on the film and talent discovery functions of major film festivals like the Tokyo International Film Festival, where Tuesday she started her role as a jury member. “Festivals are the allies of the filmmakers. They help to uncover the truth of our work as filmmakers. It is a […]

‘After the Quake,’ a film adaptation of a Murakami Haruki story collection, has been picked up by Japan’s Bitters End for international rights sales. Directed by Inoue Tsuyoshi (“Amachan”) and produced by “Drive My Car” producer Yamamoto Teruhisa, the film is based on four of the six short stories in Murakami’s 2000 book of the […]

Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun’s latest feature “Pavane for an Infant,” starring acclaimed actor Fish Liew, makes its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, taking on the pressing social issue of abandoned babies and women’s rights in Malaysia. The film follows a female social worker operating a baby hatch facility, exposing the challenges […]

Nikkatsu, the venerable Japanese studio which is representing “Cloud,” the latest film by Kurosawa Kiyoshi, has added a quartet of new titles to its sales lineup, in time for TIFFCOM the rights market that accompanies the Tokyo International Film Festival. These are headed by “The Hotel of My Dreams,” a comedy-drama directed by Tsutsumi Yukihiko. […]

The Tokyo International Film Festival got underway Monday, just hours after a general election delivered a reduced parliamentary mandate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. But if Japanese voters once again demonstrated their political apathy, there are signs that Japanese audiences have maintained their appetite for the entertainment industry – and further signals that the […]

The 37th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is doubling down on global networking and gender equality initiatives, according to festival chair Ando Hiroyasu. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, various restrictions made this difficult, but we are finally able to engage in genuine networking,” Ando told Variety. The festival has relocated its TIFF Lounge, a hub for […]

The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled Hungarian auteur Béla Tarr as the recipient of its lifetime achievement award for the upcoming 37th edition of the festival. Tarr, known for his distinctive cinematic style, gained international recognition with his 438-minute film “Satantango” (1994), which earned him an award at the Berlinale. His 2000 film […]