This fall brings a new feeding ground for international horror, science fiction, fantasy, action and animation films.
Frontière, the international genre co-production market hosted by Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, will partner with the Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market (TIFFCOM) to implement a new genre gap financing program at the Tokyo Gap Financing Market (TGFM) this October.
The announcement coincides with the conclusion of the Marché du Film, where Japan was this year’s honorary country, and marks the conclusion of a busy session at the Frontière Platform. The Frontière platform has played an important role in recent years in stimulating the growing demand for genre films both at the Cannes Film Festival and in the market.
“Since our founding in 1996, Fantasia has championed Asian cinema. Expanding into Japan feels like a natural evolution,” Fantasia deputy director Tania Morissette told Variety. “We are extremely proud of this new partnership and the opportunity to further spotlight international genre co-productions.”
Morissette attended TGFM last year and was impressed by the quality of the projects. Officials from the two events began talks and finalized the partnership last week in Cannes.
Films from TGFM alumni that will be screened at Cannes this year include Jorge Thielen Armando’s Death Without a Master (Directors’ Fortnight), Sompot Chidogasongponce’s Nine Temples to Heaven (Directors’ Fortnight), and Constantina Cozzamani’s Titanic Ocean (Un Certain Regard).
“In recent years, Frontière has seen an increase in applications from Asia,” Morissette said. “Projects such as “Funky Forest 2” and “Red Spider Lilies” were selected at last year’s Montreal market, and this year’s sold-out Cannes Frontier presented Norihiro Niwazukino’s “Makaishin” and “Queen of Malacca.”
The new Tokyo Market Program will feature international projects in advanced finance seeking gap financing of up to 40%. Each team will present their project at TGFM’s curated showcase. TGFM supports feature film projects by facilitating one-on-one meetings and daily panel discussions with industry experts (producers, financiers, distributors, broadcasters, streaming platforms) throughout the three-day TIFFCOM, October 28-30.
The market is affiliated with the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, which will be held from October 26th to November 4th. Applications for eligible projects open today (May 22nd) and close on July 21st, 2026. Applicants can submit their projects through the Frontier Market website or the TGFM platform.
Recent Frontiers hits include Valdimar Johansson’s Lamb, which won the 2021 Un Certain Regard originality award, Zaral Khan’s In Flames, which was selected for the 2023 Cannes Directors Fortnight, and Dara van Dusen’s A Prayer for the Dying, which won accolades at the 2026 Berlinale Perspective.
Another previous Frontiers title, Agnieszka Smoczynska’s new work Hot Spot, will be premiered at Fantasia’s 30th edition this summer.
The Frontières International Co-Production Market is funded by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, the Government of Quebec, the City of Montreal, and RDV Canada.
