Since its launch in 2006, J-Pitch has participated in Cannes, Shanghai, Paris, Toronto, Pusan, Rotterdam, Berlin, and Hong Kong, and provided Japanese producers with an opportunity to introduce their projects which aim at international co-productions. J-Pitch has also held the Project Development Workshop and International Co-Production Seminars.
Below listed are the projects produced through J-Pitch programs.
Films released in the fiscal year 2008
FLAVOR OF HAPPINESS
Producer: Kazushi Miki
Director: Mitsuhiro Mihara
Japanese Release: October 11, 2008
Country: Japan
Project Market:
Hong Kong-Asia Film Finaning Forum(HAF)2007
©2008 FLAVOR OF HAPPINESS Film Partners
Producer's Comment
If film has any work for our society, in these days when uncountable devastating cases happen, I can say that we feel we should be kind to others even if we do not cry the message out to the world after watching movies. FLAVOR OF HAPPINESS is such kind of story, it makes people happy. Participation in J-Pitch was very useful in terms of helping me get a lot of advices about my project from overseas producers, and I used those advices for building the personality of the main character. Moreover, listening to the lectures about international market and financing system given by foreign teachers approved what I‘ve already thought was right, and it was helpful that I could see the hope and future about attitude and expansion of my project little by little. Since my policy is that movie is not making but showing, J-Pitch is very meaningful to let Japanese films pull on the stage.
TOKYO SONATA
Producer: Yukie Kito
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Japanese Release: September 27, 2008
Country: Japan=Hong Kong=Netherlands
Project Market: Cannes Producers Network 2006
©2008 Fortissimo Films/ TOKYO SONATA Film Partners
Producer's Comment
I first introduced the project at J-Pitch in Cannes, and in doing so I was able to meet with overseas, especially European companies with interests in Japanese projects. Since that was before the rewriting process began and the screenplay was in its original format, the timing gave me a chance to learn and take in what sort of stories pique the interests of foreign companies. Moreover, I had the opportunity to know what kind of companies there are and in what sort of ways they hope to become involved in Japanese projects--for example investments, or distribution rights. I had already decided on a director at HAF, so it was possible for me to speak with international distributors in greater detail about relevant issues such as the levels of regard for Japanese actors in different countries.
TEA FIGHT
Producer: Kousuke Ono
Director: Yeming Wang
Japanese Release: July 12, 2008
Country: Japan=Taiwan
Project Market:
Hong Kong-Asia Film Finaning Forum(HAF)2007
©2008 TEA FIGHT FILM ASSOCIATION
Producer's Comment
I have been supported by J-Pitch since I took the pitching seminar during developing TEA FIGHT three years ago. Though I had worked at TOHO in Japan, I was not in production side, so I was thought by J-Pitch about overall film production, especially international co-production. I learnt a lot from meetings with participants and exchanging information in addition to advices I was given from J-Pitch staff and guests. HAF was the first project market I participated in with TEA FIGHT and it was helpful for me as an unexperienced producer to become familiar with project market. At the next project market, Paris Cinema, there were lots of opportunities to meet with both international directors and producers. The project market was best one in the meaning of making connection with abroad although my project was at the development stage. I was also awarded Pusan Promotion Plan Award at Pusan2008, with the project directed by a Malaysian filmmaker who I met at Paris Cinema. It could be said that this project was born from J-Pitch. I hope to make bigger budget film in the near future.
