Hi, this is Izumitani from the Ehime Film Commission (Ehime FC)!
Following the National Location Fair, the next day featured a double session:
🎬 Overseas Filmmakers Seminar (hosted by the National Film Archive, Japan Film Commission (JFC), and Visual Industry Promotion Organization)
🎬 Japan FC Skill-Up Training
Insights on Supporting International Productions
For this session, we had Mr. Yamaguchi, the CEO of Knock on Wood, share valuable insights. He discussed current filming support for overseas productions and offered advice on how to attract and assist international projects based on his years of experience.
One of the most striking points was that supporting international productions isn’t just about filming logistics—it also involves “lifestyle support.”
What is “lifestyle support”?
It means ensuring international crews feel comfortable during their stay in Japan, considering religion, dietary preferences, customs, and cultural differences. Essentially, it’s a form of hospitality.
Thinking about how a filmmaker’s experience in Japan might influence their next project, I realized that—just like tourists—filmmakers should also have a positive, memorable stay. It made me reflect on what more we can do to enhance their time in Japan.
Learning from Case Studies
In the afternoon session, we had insightful case study presentations from different FCs:
📌 Matsumoto FC – “Location Tours for Ruruo no Tsuki“
📌 Ise-Shima FC – “Using Destination Management Organizations (DMO) to Maximize Film Impact”
📌 Hamamatsu FC – “Strengthening Regional Support Networks”
I took plenty of notes on how to apply these ideas in Ehime. Location tours, in particular, are gaining more attention, and with the increasing number of supported productions in our region, this session provided valuable takeaways.
Group Discussions on Key Topics
After the case studies, we split into groups to discuss the following themes:
💡 Challenges in Film Permits & Improving Filming Environments
💡 Attracting International Productions & Inbound Tourism Benefits
💡 Maximizing the Impact of Supported Productions & Rights Management
💡 The Role of Film Commissions & Elevating Their Status
Growing Role of Film Commissions in Japan
The industry has evolved since film commissions first emerged in Japan 22 years ago. Initially, just attracting and supporting productions was enough to gain recognition.
However, today, the impact and expectations of filming support have grown tremendously, with more stakeholders involved than ever before.
Our group discussions covered both long-standing and emerging industry issues. By sharing experiences from different film commissions, we explored potential solutions and policy improvements.
A Valuable and Engaging Training
In our daily work, it’s rare to have many colleagues who fully understand these specific challenges. But at this event, everyone was a film commission representative, making for a highly engaging and enriching discussion.
Despite different roles and levels of experience, we all learned from one another, reinforcing the essential role film commissions play in Japan’s filming industry.
After this training, I truly feel that we have leveled up our skills, taking another step forward in enhancing Japan’s filming environment! 🚀🎬
It was a great experience, and I look forward to applying these insights in Ehime! 😊