TIFFCOM 2026, the content market affiliated with the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), officially opened today, Wednesday, October 28, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-Kan. The 23rd edition runs through Friday, October 30, with doors open from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM and an earlier 4:00 PM close on the final day.
Described by its organizers as Asia’s leading content market, TIFFCOM brings together content holders across film, television and animation, as well as professional buyers and producers from Asia and around the world. The market is organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and UNIJAPAN. For context, last year’s edition drew more than 4,600 participants, including over 1,900 from abroad, from 46 countries and regions, and generated more than 7,700 business meetings.
What TIFFCOM 2026 Has to Offer
Beyond its traditional sales floor, TIFFCOM is positioning itself around IP, remake rights, book adaptation rights, co-productions and financing. In addition, alongside its usual range of content holders, this year’s market sees more technology exhibitors working in AI and data analytics.
At the center of the IP push is the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake (TIPM). Launched in 2025, the market expanded to the Marché du Film in Cannes in May 2026 as Japan IP Market, a joint initiative with TIFFCOM. Building on that momentum, TIPM connects Japanese IP holders with producers from Hollywood, Europe and Asia looking to secure screen adaptation and remake rights to manga, novels and classic titles. This year, ten Japanese IP holders are taking part: Amuse Creative Studio, Comisma, Kadokawa, Nihon Bungeisha, Nippon Animation, Shochiku, Shufu to Seikatsu Sha, Square Enix, Takaratomy (Tomy) and Toei. Over the three days, the program combines one-on-one business meetings with open pitching sessions, starting with the Tokyo IP Market Pitch Session Powered by IMAGICA GROUP this afternoon at 14:30.
Meanwhile, the 7th Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (TGFM) focuses on feature film projects that have already secured at least 60% of their total budget and incorporate Asian elements. Through one-on-one meetings, producers and directors of the selected projects engage with sales agents, distributors, production companies, financiers, broadcasters and investors. This year’s selection counts 24 live-action and animation projects, including eight originating from Japan and five anime projects. Once again, three projects participate with the cooperation of the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Italian Ministry of Culture and Cinecittà. Moreover, a new partnership with Frontières, the international genre co-production market of Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival, brings a large number of genre projects to Tokyo. TGFM takes place at Port Studio, Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba (8F).
Notably, TGFM is also hosting its first-ever open pitch today, with 10 producers and directors presenting their projects at IMAGICA Entertainment Media Services’ Screening Room #2 in Takeshiba. The first part, from 16:00, features five of the selected projects, namely three works in progress and two Japanese animation projects. The second part, from 17:00, then presents the first-ever Frontières Showcase in Asia, with video pitches from five genre projects. Finally, the TGFM 2026 Awards Ceremony will close the project market on Friday at 15:15.
The 2026 Conference Program
As for the conference lineup, this year’s sessions cover Japanese IP in global markets, AI and new technology, anime and international co-production. All conferences and events are open to anyone with a completed visitor registration.
On the opening day, the special session “Unlocking the Global Potential of Japanese IP,” organized by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and UNIJAPAN, brings together three leading figures from Japan and the U.S. who are driving the screen adaptation of Japanese IP. Later in the afternoon, Nippon TV presents “Nippon TV’s Journey to Becoming a Global Content Powerhouse.” Wednesday’s program also includes TGFM Talk 1, “Genre Goes Global: Inside Co-Production Markets,” as well as the Linmon Content Showcase 2026-2027 and the Taiwan Originals: Project Showcase, organized by the Taiwan Drama Production Industry Federation.
On Thursday, the focus shifts to technology with the keynote “Technology and Storytelling,” organized by the MPA, the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (MPPAJ) and UNIJAPAN. In this session, AGBO Partner Chris Brearton and Chief Scientific Officer Dominic Hughes will discuss how emerging technologies can serve as creative partners across film, television, gaming and interactive entertainment, drawing on the artist-led approach of the studio founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo. Variety Asia Editor Naman Ramachandran will moderate. Japanese broadcasters also take the stage the same day. First, TBS presents “TBS Global Strategy in Action: From Partnering with Hollywood’s Legendary Entertainment to Expanding ‘SASUKE.’” Afterwards, the Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan (BEAJ) hosts the special session “Japan’s IP Frontier 2026: Beyond Broadcasting.”
Thursday’s lineup continues with “Beyond Country of Honour – Building the Next Global Partnerships with Japan –,” organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). There, a representative of the Marché du Film will reflect on Japan’s role as Country of Honour in Cannes this year and explore new opportunities for Japanese IP, co-production and global collaboration. In parallel, NIQ/GfK Japan will decode Japan’s content landscape through data on streaming, character IP, music and global expansion, while TGFM Talk 2 looks at co-production support from the perspectives of Brazil, Canada and Japan. The day then wraps with the ANIME CO-PRODUCTION CONFERENCE, “Anime’s New Frontier: Structuring & Financing International Co-Productions.”
Finally, Friday puts animation and financing in the spotlight. The Association of Japanese Animations hosts the special session “Japanese Animation’s Global Expansion: 2025 Overseas Sales Update and Strategies from Two Studios,” while TOKYO ANIME NEXT holds the Special Animation Symposium “Toward the Launch of a New Anime Award in 2027.” On the financing side, UNIJAPAN’s “Film Funds in Japan: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Comes Next” examines the real-world potential and persistent challenges of film funds in Japan, with K2 Pictures, Questry and other experts in production, finance, law and content financing. In addition, ATMOVIE GLOBAL TRACK and Ties That Bind present “10 Steps to Building Successful Co-Production.”
For those not yet registered, walk-in visitor registration remains open online via the Visitor My Page until Friday, October 30, at 11:59 AM JST, with payment accepted by credit card only. Badges can be collected at the Badge Reception on the 5th floor of the venue.
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