The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (TGFM) has announced its selection of 23 feature film projects for its sixth edition, scheduled to take place during TIFFCOM 2025. The diverse lineup includes “Freedom in the Sky,” an animated feature directed by renowned Ayumu Watanabe, and a live-action adaptation of Kuro Nohara’s manga, “Staring at Your Back,” helmed by Korean director Kun-jae Jang. The announcement, made on Thursday, September 11, highlights TGFM’s role in assisting filmmakers in securing the final stages of financing for their projects.
Bolstering Asian and International Film Co-Productions
TGFM, an integral part of TIFFCOM (the content market of the Tokyo International Film Festival), serves as a crucial platform for producers from Japan, Asia, and internationally to secure vital gap financing. Projects selected for TGFM must have already secured a minimum of 60% of their total budget and typically feature strong Asian elements or are international co-productions involving Asian countries. The market facilitates one-on-one meetings with influential industry professionals, including producers, sales agents, distributors, financiers, broadcasters, and funders, all with decision-making authority.
The 6th edition of TGFM will be held from October 30 to November 1, 2025, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-Kan.
Spotlight on “Freedom in the Sky” and “Staring at Your Back”
Among the most anticipated projects is “Freedom in the Sky,” a feature-length animated film directed by Ayumu Watanabe, known for his work on several Doraemon films, Children of the Sea, and Space Brothers #0. Produced by Genco, Inc., this marks the first time a Japanese feature-length animation project has been selected for TGFM.
The live-action feature “Staring at Your Back” is a Japan-South Korea co-production, adapting Kuro Nohara’s Japanese manga of the same name. Directed by Kun-jae Jang and produced by Mocushura Inc., the film’s source material, Kimi no Senaka, debuted in 2019 and tells the story of a high school student whose mundane life is transformed by the arrival of a new student.
Other Noteworthy Selections and International Collaborations
The 23 selected projects span 26 countries and regions, showcasing a strong presence from Southeast Asia and a continued focus on Italian co-productions. The Japan-Italy Film Co-production Agreement, which came into effect last year, has yielded several specially selected projects.
Other notable projects include:
- “KILLTUBE,” an anime film by director Kazuaki Kuribayashi and CHOCOLATE Inc.
- “1982” by Vietnamese director Diep Nguyen Hoang, whose debut film won at Venice Critics’ Week.
- “Filipinana,” the feature film adaptation by Filipino director Rafael Manuel, building on his Silver Bear Jury Prize-winning short film.
- “Hum,” a project by director Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, a Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner.
- “Polaris,” a Japan-Taiwan collaboration from director Natsuki Seta.
- “Konbini,” a Spain-Japan co-production directed by Pedro Collantes and set in Tokyo.
TGFM’s continued success in fostering these international collaborations underscores its significance in the global film financing landscape, providing a vital bridge for diverse and compelling cinematic narratives to reach completion.
