Tokyo, Japan – The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (TGFM), a crucial platform for film project development and financing in Asia, has announced its selection of 23 feature film projects for its sixth edition. The lineup, revealed on Thursday, September 11, 2025, features a diverse slate that includes a new animated film from acclaimed director Ayumu Watanabe and a highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the manga “Staring at Your Back.”
The 6th Tokyo Gap-Financing Market will take place from October 29 to 31, 2025, as a key component of TIFFCOM 2025, the content market affiliated with the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). Hosted at the Tokyo Port City Takeshiba “PORT STUDIO,” the event aims to facilitate one-on-one meetings between selected producers and a global network of industry professionals, including sales agents, distributors, financiers, and broadcasters, to secure the final stages of project funding.
Spotlight on Animated Feature “Freedom in the Sky” by Ayumu Watanabe
A standout among the selected projects is “Freedom in the Sky,” a feature-length animated film directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with production by Genco Inc. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first Japanese feature-length animation ever chosen for the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market. Watanabe is a highly respected figure in Japanese animation, known for his directorial work on several “Doraemon” films, as well as critically acclaimed features such as “Children of the Sea” (2019) and “Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko” (2021). Genco Inc. is renowned for producing notable animated works, including “In This Corner of the World.”
Live-Action Manga Adaptation: “Staring at Your Back”
Also generating considerable interest is the live-action feature film “Staring at Your Back,” a Japan-South Korea co-production. Directed by the acclaimed Korean filmmaker Kun-jae Jang (“A Midsummer’s Fantasia”), and produced by Mocushura Inc., the film is an adaptation of Kuro Nohara’s Japanese manga “Kimi no Senaka.” The manga, which debuted in 2019 and saw digital releases in French and English by publisher Akata, tells the story of high school student Takeru Inomata, whose ordinary life in a provincial town takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a new student, Kôtarô, a former primary school classmate. The film is currently listed as “in development” on Mocushura Inc.’s website.
The Tokyo Gap-Financing Market’s Crucial Role
The TGFM plays a vital role in the global film ecosystem by focusing on projects that have already secured a significant portion of their budget—at least 60%—and possess strong Asian elements. This stringent selection criterion ensures that the market supports robust projects with a clear path towards completion. The initiative provides a confidential and highly focused environment for producers and directors to engage with decision-makers from around the world, making critical connections to bridge the “gap” in their financing.
The 2025 edition will feature projects from a wide array of 26 countries and regions, signaling the market’s growing international reach and influence. Beyond the headline projects, the selection includes a diverse range of narrative and animation features, reflecting a commitment to fostering both established and emerging talent within the global film industry. With its emphasis on co-production and international collaboration, TGFM continues to solidify Tokyo’s position as a pivotal hub for film financing and development in Asia and beyond.
