TIFFCOM 2026 Expands Japanese IP Market, Adds AI and Anime Sessions
The expanded Tokyo IP Market and the Frontières partnership signal a deliberate push to convert Japan's IP demand, measured at Cannes, into structured deal-making for genre projects and adaptations.
Key Facts
- TIFFCOM 2026 will be held October 28-30 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-kan.
- The Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake expands following the inaugural Japan IP Market at Cannes in May, which drew more than 700 registrations.
- The seventh Tokyo Gap-Financing Market will select around 20 projects and collaborates with Frontières, the genre-focused market of Canada's Fantasia International Film Festival.
- TIFFCOM 2025 attracted more than 4,600 industry attendees from 46 countries and regions, a 13% increase from the previous edition.
- Visitor registration early-bird pricing is 19,800 yen until September 10, with standard pricing of 25,300 yen until October 20.
Reporting from 2 sources: Cartoon Brew, GameBusiness.jp.
TIFFCOM, the industry market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival, will hold its 23rd edition from October 28 to 30 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-kan. Organizers announced an expanded program centered on Japanese IP, anime, artificial intelligence, and international co-production. The event will feature an expanded Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, which handles adaptation rights for manga and novels as well as remake rights for existing productions. The expansion follows TIFFCOM's partnership with Cannes' Marché du Film on the inaugural Japan IP Market in May, which drew more than 700 registrations for pitching sessions, panels, and related programs. TIFFCOM managing director Kaori Ikeda said the conference program will include approximately 20 sessions covering topics such as the global expansion of Japanese IP, the latest anime industry report, AI, and international business and collaboration. The seventh Tokyo Gap-Financing Market will select around 20 projects seeking international partners, collaborating this year with Frontières, the genre-focused project market operated by Canada's Fantasia International Film Festival. Last year's TIFFCOM attracted more than 4,600 industry attendees from 46 countries and regions, a 13% increase from the previous edition. Visitor registration is now open.
- Poster visual: illustrator Takashi Kawakami, known for BRUTUS magazine covers and fashion brand artwork, drew Tokyo for the second consecutive year.
- Registration fees: early bird (until September 10, 11:59 AM) is 19,800 yen; standard (September 10, 12:00 PM to October 20, 11:59 AM) is 25,300 yen; on-site (October 27, 1:00 PM to October 30, 11:59 AM) is 29,700 yen. Payment is credit card only, no refunds, and all badges are valid for the whole event period.
- Visitor badge benefits: entry to the venue, access to the visitor My Page, conference attendance (excluding invitation-only sessions), event participation, P&I screenings at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, and business lounge use.
- Eligibility covers film, TV, animation, OTT/VOD, home entertainment, in-flight entertainment, CG/VR/AR technology, adaptation and remake rights, characters, IP, games, toys, music, and post-production and translation professionals.
- Visa support: paid document issuance for international attendees, 5,500 yen until August 31 and 11,000 yen from September 1 to 11, with an application deadline of September 11, 11:59 PM.
- TIFFCOM CEO Yasushi Shiina said of the Cannes market: "I felt on the ground that demand for Japanese content is rising more than ever."
- Last year's TIFFCOM 2025 drew 4,610 attendees, with business meetings exceeding 7,700; 83% of visitor respondents said they "found new business partners."
- Organizers say exhibitor applications are arriving at a faster pace than usual this year, according to managing director Kaori Ikeda.
- Conference sessions are mostly open without advance registration, on a first-come, first-served basis, except for invitation-only programs.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.