The 38th Tokyo International Film Festival and its industry market Tiffcom unfolded under clearer skies than last year’s typhoon-soaked edition, and the mood matched the weather. From Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, the festival filled venues across the Hibiya-Yurakucho district while Tiffcom brought deal-making energy to Hamamatsucho, where 322 exhibiting companies descended on the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center – a record that reflects Tokyo’s evolving identity from regional showcase to pan-Asian co-production hub.
This year’s edition revealed an industry at an inflection point. Japanese producers are flush with IP gold – anime alone hit $25.3 billion globally – yet grappling with structural barriers that make international collaboration maddeningly difficult. Meanwhile, a new generation of female producers took center stage to share how they’ve navigated an industry that, until recently, kept them firmly in supporting roles. And perhaps most tellingly, the entire event was tinged with anticipation of Japan’s 2026 spotlight as the…
AloJapan.com