Cannes and Tokyo Lock In Second Year of Joint IP Market

The Japan IP Market will hold a second edition in Cannes next May.

The Cannes Film Market and TIFFCOM, the content market of the Tokyo International Film Festival, have agreed to co-organize the event again. The 2027 dates are set for May 14 and 15. This follows the market's debut in May 2026, which served as a centerpiece for Japan's role as Country of Honor at the Cannes Film Market.

The initial 2026 edition connected Japanese rights holders with international professionals through pitches, one-on-one meetings, and industry panels. Companies including Kadokawa, Shochiku, and Toei Company participated in the first year. Fujimura Tetsu, executive producer of "One Piece" and founder of Filosophia, Inc., spoke during the opening event.

The renewal was announced at TIFFCOM in Tokyo during a conference on international partnerships. Alexandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the Cannes Film Market, attended the panel. Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Cannes Film Market, stated that the collaboration extends beyond a single edition. He said the market gives Japanese intellectual properties greater access to international partners.

Esmiol expressed his delight in continuing work with TIFFCOM to help rights holders connect with global producers. The goal is to develop new adaptations and bring Japanese stories to wider audiences. Zakharchenko described the aim as creating conditions for business between Japanese rights holders and overseas companies. She noted that bringing these groups together in Cannes helps turn interest in Japanese content into concrete deals.

Shiina Yasushi, executive adviser at UNIJAPAN and CEO of TIFFCOM, called the Cannes market the largest attached to any film festival. He said meeting international professionals there is key to nurturing Japanese IP into global content. Ikeda Kaori, managing director of TIFFCOM, said the first edition showed strong global demand for Japanese properties. She added that the continued link between Cannes in May and the Tokyo IP Market in October will allow more professionals to meet rights holders directly.

The lineup of participating companies for 2027 will be announced in the coming months.