Hi, this is Izumitani from Ehime Film Commission (Ehime FC).
On January 23, the National Filming Locations Fair (hosted by the Japan Film Commission) was held on the 23rd floor of Mynavi PLACE Kabukiza Tower in Higashi-Ginza.
What is the National Filming Locations Fair?
This event is a matchmaking opportunity between film commissions (FCs) and film/TV industry professionals. It provides FCs with a rare chance to meet industry professionals directly, while filmmakers and production teams can gather information on potential filming locations across Japan—from Hokkaido to Okinawa. The event benefits both sides and is one of the most significant events for the Japan Film Commission, second only to the annual general meeting.
This Year’s Fair
This year, 88 film commissions from all over Japan participated, with over 230 attendees. While the turnout was similar to last year, many people commented that it was more crowded this year!” This was probably due to more prolonged attendee engagement, as people stayed for extended discussions compared to the previous year.
At the Ehime FC booth, we spent a lot of time providing location information, showcasing past projects we’ve supported, and answering various inquiries from visitors. Additionally, we had several one-on-one meetings, each lasting about an hour. If we had four sessions, that meant four hours of discussions, making the time fly by!
Busy Schedule
In addition to representing Ehime FC, I also served as the Chairperson of the Japan Film Commission, which meant I constantly greeted visitors, engaged in impromptu conversations, and handled unexpected discussions. The event started at 1 PM, but before I knew it, it was already 5 PM, then suddenly 7 PM, marking the end of the fair.
Networking & Discussions
After the fair, from 7 PM to 8 PM, we held a networking session with filmmakers and production teams. This was an opportunity to exchange ideas, express appreciation to participating FCs, and engage in meaningful discussions. Just like the main event, the hour flew by in no time!
Looking Ahead
The National Filming Locations Fair often leads to concrete filming projects, and this year was no exception—we already received reports of productions being confirmed. As a participant and an organizer, this made the event incredibly rewarding.
For Ehime FC, we discussed new projects, location scouting, turning filming sites into tourism spots, and promoting supported works. How many of these will come to fruition? Time will tell, but we’ll keep working hard to attract more film productions to Ehime!
Looking forward to sharing more updates soon!