International factual execs confirmed for Tokyo TV Forum

International documentary channel buyers and programme managers will convene in Tokyo next month after the Japanese producers’ association has confirmed it will host another edition of the Tokyo TV Forum.

The TV pitching event was launched last year to highlight factual projects from the country. The second edition of the event will take place this December.

Japanese producers will present 25 projects to potential international buyers and partners. Two will be from other Asian countries with producers from South Korea and Taiwan pitching a project apiece.

Confirmed international attendees include Nick Fraser from the BBC, Ann Julienne from France Télévision, Axel Arno from SVT, Mette Hoffmann Meyer from DR, Catherine Alvaresse from Arte France and Paul Lewis and Vikram Channa from Discovery.

The winner of last year’s pitching event was Kyoko Miyake’s doc about Fukushima, Beyond the Wave, which attracted copro investment from WDR and the BBC following the Forum.

Yukihiko Amagi, director of the Tokyo TV Forum said: “This year’s selection of projects cover the diverse issues faced by Japan and the multi‐hued allure of Japanese society and culture. It will be exciting to see how the overseas decision makers evaluate the wide variety of projects.”

The finalists in the pitching competition will present their projects at Asian Side of the Doc in Kuala Lumpur next March.