The Asian content market will host a specialized session examining the structural and commercial strategies required to transition Japanese franchises into international live-action productions.
The 23rd edition of TIFFCOM, will feature a strategic panel focused on the international adaptation and commercial scalability of Japanese intellectual property (IP). Scheduled for October 28 the session will bring together production and streaming executives from Amazon MGM Studios, Netflix, and Credeus to discuss the business of transitioning local franchises to global audiences.
Organized by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and UNIJAPAN, the session titled Unlocking the Global Potential of Japanese IP aims to explore the frameworks necessary for expanding Japanese narratives to Hollywood and beyond. This panel aligns with TIFFCOM’s core agenda for the October 28-30 event, which gathers global film, TV, and animation rights holders, buyers, and producers to foster international co-productions and content business integration.
The discussion will feature operational and strategic perspectives from the US streaming sector. Buddy Marini, appointed Head of Amazon MGM Studios Japan in March 2026, will address the development of local originals across scripted, unscripted, and anime formats. Marini, who leverages 25 years of media leadership experience, oversees the studio’s content pipeline and works with global teams to distribute Japanese stories worldwide.
Complementing the platform strategy, Steven Maeda will provide the showrunner’s perspective on translating complex properties into mainstream international successes. As the Executive Producer of Netflix’s live-action One Piece—a series that generated over 140 million viewing hours and debuted at number one in 46 countries during its opening week—Maeda offers practical insight into adapting established Japanese IP for global scalability.
From the local production standpoint, Shinzo Matsuhashi, CEO of CREDEUS, will outline the mechanics of developing high-profile live-action adaptations within Japan. Matsuhashi has spearheaded major franchise transitions, including Kingdom, Kokuhō, Blue Lock, and Golden Kamuy. By 2026, the cumulative box-office gross of the films he has produced surpassed 100 billion yen, earning him multiple Fujimoto Awards for outstanding film production.
The panel will be moderated by Atsuo Nakayama, CEO of Re Entertainment and an entertainment sociologist. Drawing from a 15-year career in IP business development across gaming, anime, and publishing with companies like Bandai Namco and DeNA, Nakayama will guide the Q&A to focus on the intersection of IP strategy and market trends.
Through this specialized session and its broader schedule of project markets and pitching events, TIFFCOM 2026 continues to structure the dialogue between Asian rights holders and international producers, establishing new operational pathways for cross-border co-productions and IP exploitation.
