Markets

TIFFCOM, the content market affiliated with the Tokyo International Film Festival, will return for its 23rd edition from October 28 to 30, 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center HAMAMATSUCHO-KAN, bringing together international film, television and animation rights holders, buyers, producers and industry executives.

The three-day market will combine conferences, project and IP showcases, pitching sessions and networking opportunities, with a particular focus this year on artificial intelligence, Japanese IP, anime, international co-production and new models for global content expansion.

Among the key additions to the conference programme is a keynote featuring Chris Brearton, Partner at AGBO, and Dominic Hughes, AGBO’s Chief Scientific Officer. The session will explore how the technology-driven studio is integrating AI, machine learning and other emerging tools into the creative process, while maintaining an artist-led approach to storytelling.

Brearton, who works alongside AGBO co-founders Anthony and Joe Russo and Partner Donald Mustard, previously served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Amazon MGM Studios and played a central role in MGM’s $8.45 billion sale to Amazon.

Hughes leads AGBO’s work in algorithms, machine learning and AI, working with the studio’s creative and innovation teams on technologies designed to support storytelling. Before joining AGBO, he co-founded personalized audio news platform Swell, later acquired by Apple, and subsequently worked on AI and language models for Apple News.

The keynote will be moderated by Variety Asia Editor Naman Ramachandran.

Japanese Anime Industry Takes Centre Stage

Anime will form another major strand of TIFFCOM 2026, with the Association of Japanese Animations presenting the latest findings from its annual industry research. The special session “Japanese Animation’s Global Expansion: 2025 Overseas Sales Update and Strategies from Two Studios”, scheduled for October 30, will unveil preliminary domestic and international market figures from the Anime Industry Report 2026.

According to figures highlighted by TIFFCOM, Japan’s content industry generated JPY 6.1 trillion in overseas sales in 2024, while anime accounted for approximately one-third of the country’s international content revenues.

Japan is targeting JPY 20 trillion in total overseas content sales by 2033, with anime expected to contribute around JPY 6 trillion.

The session will combine new market data with case studies from Nippon Animation and Production I.G, examining how Japanese animation companies are expanding their businesses internationally.

Speakers will include Kazuko Ishikawa, President of the Association of Japanese Animations and President of Nippon Animation; Masahiro Hasegawa, Editor-in-Chief of Anime Industry Report; Hitomi Hiratsuka, Director International Sales & Productions at Nippon Animation; and Yoko Ueda, Director, Corporate Administration and IP & Communications at Production I.G.

International Anime Co-Productions Move Beyond Distribution

TIFFCOM will also examine the growing role of international partnerships in anime financing and production.

The conference “Anime’s New Frontier: Structuring & Financing International Co-Productions”, taking place on October 29, will focus on collaboration models involving international partners from the earliest stages of project development.

The discussion will address financing structures, rights management, dealmaking and the strategic use of festivals and industry markets to develop projects for international audiences.

Speakers include Ervin Han, Co-Founder and CEO of Robot Playground Media and director of The Violinist, which won the top prize at Annecy; Taiki Sakurai, CEO of Salamander; and Ilan Urroz, CEO of Foliascope. The session will be moderated by Masao Kawano, Program Manager at Into Global.

Japanese Broadcasters Push IP Beyond Television

Another key session, “Japan’s IP Frontier 2026: Beyond Broadcasting,” organised by the Broadcast Program Export Association of Japan (BEAJ), will examine how Japanese broadcasters are transforming television properties into wider entertainment businesses.

Six Japanese companies will present initiatives designed to expand their intellectual property beyond traditional broadcasting and into international markets, live entertainment, VR, formats and new business models.

Projects featured include TV Tokyo’s “Kyofushin Exhibition,” which has taken the concept of Japanese horror into an experiential format exported to Taiwan; Fuji Television’s Run for Money, which is being extended into a VR location-based entertainment business; and Chukyo TV’s latest variety format Save Money.

San-in Chuo Television will present its self-funded Dopamine Project, while Nankai Broadcasting will discuss the development of more than 100 ready-to-air programmes. Hokkaido Television Broadcasting will showcase its Local Content Bank, launched a year ago to support the international exploitation of locally developed content.

Linmon Pictures Unveils 2026–2027 Drama Slate

Chinese producer Linmon Pictures will also present its upcoming drama slate during the Linmon Content Showcase 2026–2027 on October 28.

The company will introduce titles including Legend of Lu Xiaofeng, A Journey To Glow, The Infinite 10 Days, Small Town Remedy and In The Moonlight.

Under its “Future-Ready Drama” positioning, Linmon is continuing to pursue its strategy of combining what it describes as “Chinese stories, global aesthetics,” with an increasing focus on international distribution and global audience appeal.

Taiwan Originals Target International Partners

Taiwan will also have a dedicated presence through the Taiwan Originals: Project Showcase, organised by the Taiwan Drama Production Industry Federation (TDPIF).

The showcase will introduce upcoming Taiwanese television dramas and original projects spanning thrillers, romance and cross-genre storytelling, while seeking international co-production, licensing and distribution partners.

Tokyo IP Market Adds New Participants

TIFFCOM has also confirmed that its Tokyo IP Market will welcome two additional first-time IP holders in 2026, bringing the total number of participants to 10.

Designed to connect rights holders with producers and international business partners, the initiative forms part of TIFFCOM’s wider effort to position Tokyo as a meeting point for Asian intellectual property, international financing and cross-border content development.

With AI, anime, IP exploitation and international co-production emerging as central themes of this year’s programme, TIFFCOM 2026 reflects the broader strategic shift underway across Japan’s content sector as local companies increasingly look beyond traditional sales models towards global partnerships, financing and long-term IP development.