Sony Pictures International Productions will showcase its IP adaptation strategy at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s TIFFCOM Content Market, where Executive Vice President of Creative Production and Head of SPIP Shebnem Askin will take a deep dive into the studio’s strategy for turning local hits into global franchises.
This session was held at a time when international interest in IP adaptation is at its peak across the content industry. SPIP, which has carved out a unique niche producing local language films across 10 countries, will strategically develop remake projects and pull back the curtain on how to localize IP in diverse markets.
Mr. Askin’s presentation will highlight SPIP’s track record of cross-cultural adaptations, including the Spanish remake of the Argentinian IP Padre No Hay Más Que Uno, the Spanish remake of the Italian property I Hate Summer, and multiple adaptations of the French IP Price of Parenting in Italy, Mexico and Spain. The studio also produced the Thai remake of 50 First Dates, the Brazilian version of Friends with Benefits, and the Italian and Mexican remakes of SPIP’s German production 25 km/h.
Japanese intellectual property plays an important role in SPIP’s strategy. The department recently produced a Mexican version of “Shall We Dance?” It has also secured international distribution rights to the Chinese remake of the comedy-drama “YOLO,” directed by female director Jia Ling, which was the top-grossing film in China.
Under Mr. Askin’s leadership, SPIP has built a solid theatrical business anchored by three local language series: the German film “The Three Agents”, the Spanish film “The Only Father”, and the Japanese blockbuster “Kingdom” series. Recent releases include the Korean thriller “Hijack 1971,” the Taiwanese feature film “Dead Talent Society,” Mamoru Hosoda’s “Scarlet,” and the studio’s first Thai production.
In addition to theatrical releases, SPIP has distributed 11 direct-streaming movies for Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Max in Mexico over the past three years. These include the Argentinian film “The Heart Knows” and the Netflix Italian original “The Price of Family” and its sequel “The Price of Nonna’s Inheritance”.
The newly rebranded Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake will launch its first open pitch session featuring Kadokawa, Kodansha, Shufu to Seikatsusha, Square Enix, Toei, and Nippon Bungeisha. The expanded market now includes visual content production companies in addition to publishers that own the original rights to Japanese manga and novels. Other notable programs include Toru Fujimura’s keynote address on the live-action adaptation of “One Piece” and Japanese IP, a Japanese Animation Seminar featuring Studio4°C, and the MPA/DHU/TIFFCOM Pitching Contest featuring “Elvis” producer Skyler Weiss as a judge. At the Tokyo Gap Finance Market, 23 projects will be selected and presented.
TIFFCOM is sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and UniJapan.
The 22nd TIFFCOM will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho Hall from October 29th to 31st during the Tokyo International Film Festival. The market aims to foster international co-production and content business development through seminars, project markets, pitch competitions and networking opportunities.
