Cannes and TIFFCOM lock 2027 date for second Japan IP Market

The number of participating companies in the first Japan IP Market was three, including Kadokawa, Shochiku, and Toei. That initial event took place in May 2026 as part of the Marché du Film's Country of Honor program. TIFFCOM and the Cannes market have now agreed to hold a second edition during the 2027 Cannes Film Festival.

The announcement came on Thursday at TIFFCOM in Tokyo. It occurred during a session called "Beyond Country of Honour: Building the Next Global Partnerships with Japan." Alexandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the Cannes market, spoke at the event. The new initiative aims to simplify the process for international partners working with Japanese intellectual property.

Japan holds a large volume of bankable manga and gaming IP. However, local rights structures and business practices have often created barriers for overseas collaborators. The partnership is designed to remove those obstacles. It provides direct access to rights holders through pitches and targeted one-on-one meetings.

The Cannes event serves as a counterpart to the Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake. That Tokyo market launched in 2025 and presents rights for manga, novels, and film remakes. By maintaining this dual structure, organizers allow Japanese companies to build international relationships at two distinct gatherings. The first occurs in May in Cannes, and the second takes place in October in Tokyo.

The first edition featured speakers including Tetsu Fujimura, founder and CEO of Filosophia. He is also an executive producer of Netflix's live-action One Piece. The new market will focus on adaptations, acquisitions, and international collaborations based on Japanese IP.

Organizers stated they will announce the list of participating companies and further program details in the coming months. The 2027 event is currently scheduled to run alongside the main Cannes Film Festival.