Producers behind acclaimed international titles, including Hayakawa Chie’s Cannes competition entry "Renoir," are set to take center stage at Tokyo’s TIFFCOM market later this month. The high-profile gathering on October 30 marks a significant milestone as Japanese creative accelerator Atmovie Global Track formalizes an official partnership with the prominent Europe-based workshop Ties That Bind.
The open public panel, officially titled “Building Creative Partnerships,” is scheduled to run in tandem with the broader Tokyo International Film Festival. Organizers have confirmed that any badge holder attending the TIFFCOM market will be granted access to the session. The panel will examine the intricate collaborative dynamics between producers and directors, exploring how creative teams elevate their projects to meet international standards. To ground the discussion in practical experience, the speakers will draw extensively on real-world case studies of feature films successfully developed and financed between the Asian and European regions.
Among the notable industry heavyweights scheduled to speak are Mizuno-Gray Eiko, CEO of Tokyo-based Loaded Films, and French producer Christophe Bruncher of Ici et Là Productions. Both producers played instrumental roles in bringing “Renoir” to life, leading to its selection in the competitive lineup at the Cannes Film Festival. Mizuno-Gray brings a wealth of international co-production experience to the table. In addition to “Renoir,” her impressive production credits include Hayakawa Chie’s widely celebrated feature “Plan 75.” That film earned a special mention for the prestigious Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 2022 and subsequently served as Japan’s official submission to the Academy Awards. Mizuno-Gray also produced Kurosawa Kiyoshi’s acclaimed feature “To the Ends of the Earth.”
Currently, Mizuno-Gray’s development slate includes an ambitious Poland-Japan co-production directed by Ishikawa Kei, alongside a Japan-Philippines project helmed by Hirayanagi Atsuko. In addition to her independent producing work, she serves as a support producer on the Atmovie Global Track accelerator and lends her expertise as a member of this year’s Asian Future jury at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Sharing the stage with Mizuno-Gray is Christophe Bruncher, a graduate of the renowned French film school La Fémis who is fluent in Mandarin and serves as the head of studies for Ties That Bind. Bruncher’s recent producing credits span several major international film festivals. They include Muriel d’Ansembourg’s Berlinale selection “Truly Naked” and Kamila Andini’s Toronto International Film Festival selection “Four Seasons in Java,” both of which are featured at this year’s edition of the Tokyo festival.
The distinguished panel is rounded out by Oh Heejung, the Seoul- and Amsterdam-based founder of Seesaw Pictures, and Moriya Takeshi, the CEO of Atmovie who originally founded the accelerator program. Oh brings a formidable track record of international distribution and festival success, with films from her company having screened at major global showcases including Sundance, the Berlinale, Locarno, IDFA, Rotterdam, and Busan. Meanwhile, Moriya’s extensive producing background encompasses both television and film, ranging from the popular series “Midnight Diner” to Uchida Eiji’s acclaimed feature “Midnight Swan,” which was named picture of the year at the 44th Japan Academy Film Prizes. The panel itself was carefully curated by Atmovie Global Track producer Sekiguchi Mio, whose own producing credits include Uchida’s compelling feature “Fiamma.”
The public panel is preceded by intensive preparatory work designed to foster deep professional relationships. On October 27 and 28, Oh Heejung and Christophe Bruncher will lead a closed, two-day workshop exclusively for the accelerator’s selected fellows. Rather than relying on traditional, passive lectures, the workshop is structured around interactive group sessions. During these meetings, participants will receive hands-on guidance on developing their individual film projects and engage in candid discussions regarding long-term career paths in the global film industry.
The overarching educational and mentoring program was meticulously designed and curated by Alessandro Gropplero. Gropplero manages the Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Fund and co-founded Ties That Bind, an initiative organized by the FVG fund in collaboration with EAVE and the Udine Far East Film Festival. For years, the Ties That Bind workshop has served as a vital bridge connecting European and Asian producers, focusing on core industry pillars such as early-stage project development, complex international financing, strategic co-production opportunities, and cross-border networking.
Atmovie Global Track was established with a clear mission: to prepare Japanese filmmakers to navigate and succeed within the highly competitive international co-production market. The accelerator achieves this through a comprehensive curriculum combining targeted lectures with ongoing mentoring from established industry figures based both in Japan and overseas. Selected fellows are provided with crucial platforms to pitch their original projects to international financiers and partners. Key milestones for the program participants include pitching sessions at the Japan Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, as well as participation in the dedicated Japan Pitch event held at the Busan International Film Festival in October.
Program organizers have noted that many domestic creators frequently encounter significant hurdles when attempting to build mutual trust across diverse cultural landscapes. Language barriers and challenges in communicating effectively outside their native language often impede Japanese filmmakers from securing international partnerships. By opening the TIFFCOM panel to the wider industry, the organizers aim to share invaluable lessons learned through the accelerator, thereby expanding the supportive network of Japanese filmmakers actively pursuing cross-border projects.
Financial and institutional backing for the comprehensive program is provided by the Japan Creator Support Fund, an initiative established by the Japan Arts Council utilizing targeted funding from the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
