The Marché du Film and TIFFCOM (Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market) launch a three-day IP market in Cannes dedicated to Japanese intellectual properties with strong potential for film adaptation. This initiative forms a key pillar of the Marché du Film’s “Japan, Country of Honour 2026" program, further strengthening creative and business ties between Japan and the international film community.
As Japan is designated Country of Honour for the 2026 edition, the Marché du Film will inaugurate the Japan IP Market, a new strategic gathering co-organized with TIFFCOM (Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market).
Designed as a high-level networking platform between Japanese and international companies, the program will take place from 15 to 17 May, bringing together a select group of leading Japanese IP holders, including Amuse Creative Studio, Kadokawa Corporation, Nihon Bungeisha, Nippon Animation, Shochiku, Shufu To Seikatsu Sha and Toei Company. Hosted aboard the prestigious Art Explora catamaran located at Cannes’ “Vieux-Port,” the Japan IP Market will primarily focus on pitch sessions and targeted one-on-one business meetings, complemented by a curated program of conferences and presentations.
At the crossroads of cinema, animation and publishing, the initiative highlights the creative strength of Japanese IP, internationally recognized for its ability to build rich transmedia narrative universes with strong adaptation potential.
Key highlights include:
- Pitch sessions and targeted one-on-one meetings between Japanese rights holders, producers, immersive studios and international players.
- Pitch session: Saturday, 16 May 11:00–12:00, Art Explora catamaran
- 1:1 meetings: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Art Explora catamaran
- Pre-registration required for both events
- “The Future of Japanese IP in Global Adaptations,” a deep dive and comprehensive keynote seminar on the future of Japanese intellectual properties in global adaptations, presented by Tetsu Fujimura, Executive Producer of Netflix’s live-action series One Piece and Founder/CEO of Filosophia Inc.
- Saturday, 16 May, 10:00–11:00, Art Explora catamaran
- Pre-registration required
- A France–Japan focus, spotlighting the long-term creative and industrial partnership between the two countries, with a strong emphasis on adaptation and cinema. The program includes dedicated sessions on adapting literary and graphic works for the screen, alongside discussions on animation, video games and the synergies between manga, film, and international distribution. One of the key sessions, “Manga & Anime: Publishers and Broadcasters Driving Success,” will bring together leading industry stakeholders, including Crunchyroll and Glénat Editions.
- Full program: Friday, 15 May, 10:00–13:00, Art Explora catamaran
- Pre-registration required
“We are thrilled to demonstrate how the Country of Honour program can create new opportunities for collaboration, and the launch of the Japan IP Market with TIFFCOM is a perfect illustration,” says Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film. “Japan is renowned as the birthplace of some of the world’s most powerful IP, from manga and anime to novels, remakes and video games. This new initiative will create further opportunities to foster international collaborations. At the same time, it reinforces the growing importance of the IP market at the Marché du Film, which has been a key strategic focus for several years.”
“The Japan IP Market is an important step for Japanese intellectual property on the global stage,” says Yasushi Shiina, CEO of TIFFCOM. “We are very pleased to launch this platform with the Marché du Film, especially with Japan as Country of Honour this year. This is the ideal environment to highlight and showcase the extraordinary adaptability and creativity of Japanese content across multiple formats and markets. By bringing together key players from Japan and around the world in Cannes, we aim to create new opportunities for business and international growth.”
With the launch of the Japan IP Market, in addition to long-standing initiatives such as Shoot the Book! and Cannes Remakes, the Marché du Film is strengthening its position as a leading international platform for the circulation, adaptation, and valorization of IP across creative industries.
The Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes opens its doors on 12 May 2026, with the film market running until 20 May and the Festival concluding its activities on 23 May.