TIFFCOM Targets Record Attendance in Tokyo

The Tokyo International Film Festival’s content market is scaling up to meet a surge in demand for Japanese intellectual property. TIFFCOM aims to match or surpass its 2025 numbers, which included 4,600 visitors and 300 exhibitors. The event opens at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-kan on October 28, 2026.

Managing director Kaori Ikeda attributes the growth to a global fascination with Japan. Nearly 43 million people visited the country last year. This influx supports the market’s focus on anime, manga, and game adaptations. Ikeda told The Hollywood Reporter that Tokyo’s status as a major cultural hub drives the current momentum.

The market has expanded its seminar offerings to include bigger industry names. A new session titled 'Unlocking the Global Potential of Japanese IP' will feature producer Shinzo Matsuhashi and Netflix’s One Piece showrunner Steven Maeda. Buddy Marini, head of Amazon MGM Studios Japan, will also speak. For the first time, the program includes an AI keynote featuring executives Chris Brearton and Dominic Hughes from AGBO.

Ikeda is in her third year leading the market. She previously worked with indie distributor Asmik Ace and cable major J:COM. Her team is preparing for the event with a focus on adaptation and remakes. They relaunched Tokyo Story Market as Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake last year. This year, the initiative includes rights holders from Toei, Shochiku, and Takara Tomy.

The market collaborated with the Cannes Marché du Film when Japan served as Country of Honour. That venture connected international producers with Japanese rights holders. Ikeda plans to repeat the effort and include smaller publishers with limited global experience. The Japanese government and industry back these expansion efforts with major investment.

The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, now in its seventh year, continues to link partially funded projects with production partners. Two productions from last year will screen in the festival’s Crosscut Asia+ section. The Violinist, an animation that found an Italian partner at the 2023 event, won the top award at Annecy this year. The Association of Japanese Animations will also release its annual industry data.

Industry trends are shifting as viewing habits change. Short dramas are gaining popularity in Japan and abroad. Streamers are cutting budgets, and AI is disrupting production workflows. Ikeda says the market is adapting to become a better space for business meetings and networking amidst these changes.