"Renoir" producers join Asia-Europe co-production panel in Tokyo market to partner Japanese accelerator Atmovie Global Track with links they link.

The producers of Hayakawa Chie's Cannes-contesting title "Renoir" are among the speakers at a session on Asia-Europe co-productions at Tokyo's TIFFCOM market on Oct. 30, as Japanese accelerator Atmovie Global Track formalizes a partnership with European workshop Ties That Bind. This open panel, titled "Building Creative Partnerships," explores how producers and directors work together.

The producers of Hayakawa Chie's Cannes title "Renoir" are among the speakers at the Asia-Europe co-production session at Tokyo's TIFFCOM market on October 30, as Japanese accelerator Atmovie Global Track formalizes a partnership with European workshop Ties That Bind.

This open panel, titled "Building Creative Partnerships," explores how producers and directors work together to bring projects internationally, using case studies of films made between the two regions. The festival is held at the same time as the Tokyo International Film Festival and any TIFFCOM badge holder can participate. RELATED STORIES Pam Levin Exits Netflix as VP of Marketing and Promotions (Exclusive) Netflix Romance Director Namkung Sun on 'Netflix Freedom and the Financing and Distribution Gap' Korean Indie Film

The panel features Mizuno-Gary Iko, CEO of Tokyo-based Loaded Films, and French producer Christophe Bruncher of Ici et Là Productions, both of whom worked on "Renoir," which competed at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. From Mizuno-Gray's credits, Hayakawa's film Camera can also be given a special mention. Cannes became Japan's Oscars in 2022 and beyond, as well as Kiyoshi Kurosawa's To the Ends of the Earth. He is developing a Polish-Japanese co-production by director Ishikawa Kei and a Japan-Philippines project by Hirayanagi Atsuko, and is also a supporting producer at Accelerator. He is also on the jury of the upcoming Asian festival in Tokyo, popular year in Variety

Bruncher, a Mandarin-speaking graduate of La Fémis, is the Ties That Bind Studies Chair. His recent co-productions include Muriel d'Ansembourg's Berlinale "Truly Naked" and Camila Andini's Toronto winner "Four Seasons in Java," both of which are at this year's Tokyo festival.

They are joined by Oh Heejung, founder of Seoul and Amsterdam-based Seesaw Pictures, whose films have played at Sundance, Berlin, Locarno, IDFA, Rotterdam and Busan, and Moriya Takeshi, CEO of Atmovie, who founded the accelerator. Moriya's production credits include the TV series Midnight Dinner and Eiji Uchida's Midnight Swan, which was named Picture of the Year at the 44th Japan Film Academy Awards. Atmovie Global Track producer Sekiguchi Mio, whose credits include Uchida's Fiamma, moderated the panel.

Prior to the public event, Oh and Broncher will lead a two-day closed workshop for accelerator fellows on October 27 and 28, built around breakout sessions where participants develop their projects and discuss their career paths rather than sitting through lectures.

The general program was conducted by Alessandro Grupplero, Director of the Audiovisual Fund of Friuli Venezia Giulia and co-founder of Ties That Bind, which the FVG Fund organizes with EAVE and the Udine Far East Film Festival. The workshop brings together European and Asian manufacturers on project development, financing, co-production opportunities and networking.

Atmovie Global Track prepares Japanese filmmakers to enter the international co-production market through lectures and guidance from Japanese and overseas industry figures. Selected companies participate in festivals with milestones including the Japan Pavilion at Cannes in May 2025 and the Japan Pitch event at the Busan International Film Festival in October. Organizers said many filmmakers struggle to build trust across cultures and communicate outside of their native language, and the open session aims to share lessons with the wider industry and grow the network of Japanese filmmakers pursuing international work.

The program is supported by the Japan Creators Support Fund, established by the Japan Arts Council with funding from the Agency for Cultural Affairs.