Cannes Market and TIFFCOM Set Second Japan IP Market for 2027

TIFFCOM and the Marché du Film have agreed to stage a second Japan IP Market during the 2027 Cannes Film Festival. The move extends a partnership that began this year and aims to link Japanese rights holders with international producers and buyers.

The decision was announced Thursday at TIFFCOM in Tokyo, during a session titled "Beyond Country of Honour: Building the Next Global Partnerships with Japan." Alexandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the Cannes market, was among the speakers.

The initiative is meant to support adaptations, acquisitions and international collaborations built on Japanese intellectual property. Overseas companies get direct access to rights holders through pitches, targeted one-on-one meetings and industry discussions.

Japan has long been seen as a treasure trove of bankable manga, gaming and other forms of IP. However, the country's distinctive rights structures and business practices have made it harder for potential international partners to work with those properties. The partnership between TIFFCOM and the Marché du Film is intended to make that process smoother.

The first edition took place in Cannes in May 2026 as part of Japan's Country of Honor program at the Marché du Film. Kadokawa, Shochiku and Toei were among the participating companies. Speakers included Tetsu Fujimura, founder and CEO of Filosophia and an executive producer of Netflix's live-action One Piece.

The Cannes event serves as a counterpart to TIFFCOM's Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, which launched in 2025. That market presents adaptation rights to manga and novels as well as film remake rights.

By continuing the partnership, organizers give Japanese companies the chance to build international relationships at two gatherings: the Cannes event in May and the Tokyo market in October.

Organizers said they plan to announce the participating companies and further details of the 2027 program in the coming months.