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TIFFCOM, the content market held in coordination with the Tokyo International Film Festival, will host a keynote presentation by Chris Brearton and Dominic Hughes, partner and chief scientific Officer, respectively,
of AGBO, the studio founded by Anthony and Joe Russo.
The session, titled “Technology and Storytelling,” takes place Oct. 29 and will be moderated by Naman Ramachandran, Asia editor at Variety.
Their conversation will focus on how artists, working alongside technologists, can use AI, machine learning and other tools to advance storytelling.
Before joining AGBO, Brearton was VP of corporate strategy at Amazon MGM Studios, where he oversaw the integration of MGM into Amazon. Hughes, a leader in algorithms, machine learning and AI, partners with AGBO’s storytelling and innovation teams to guide the development and deployment of AI technologies within the creative process.
The Russo Brothers and AGBO have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office and produced 17 No. 1 worldwide debuts, including “Avengers: Endgame.” The studio is currently in post-production on “Avengers: Doomsday,” set for release Dec. 18.
The keynote leads TIFFCOM’s second wave of confirmed conferences. The Association of Japanese Animations will present a special session on “Japanese Animation’s Global Expansion” on Oct. 30, unveiling the first public data from its 2025 industry survey alongside overseas strategy presentations from Nippon Animation and Production I.G. Speakers include Nippon Animation international sales director Hitomi Hiratsuka and Production I.G. corporate administration and IP director Yoko Ueda, with opening remarks from Association of Japanese Animations president Kazuko Ishikawa.
A co-production conference, “Anime’s New Frontier: Structuring and Financing International Co-Productions,” runs Oct. 29 and features Ervin Han, director of the Annecy-winning “The Violinist” and co-founder of Robot Playground Media, alongside Salamander CEO Taiki Sakurai and Foliascope CEO Ilan Urroz.
TIFFCOM’s Asian series and film sessions include a showcase of Linmon Pictures’ 2026-2027 drama slate on Oct. 28 and a Taiwan originals project showcase from the Taiwan Drama Production Industry Federation the same day. A “Japan’s IP Frontier” session on Oct. 29 will spotlight six companies, including TV Tokyo, Fuji Television and Hokkaido Television Broadcasting, expanding formats and IP overseas, while Nippon TV and Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings will each present separate sessions on their global strategies on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29.
The Tokyo IP Market also welcomes two new participants, digital comics publisher Comisma and toy company Takaratomy, bringing its total to 10 IP holders alongside Amuse Creative Studio, Kadokawa, Nihon Bungeisha, Nippon Animation, Shochiku, Shufu to Seikatsu Sha, Square Enix and Toei.
TIFFCOM 2026 runs Oct. 28-30 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho-kan, alongside the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, which runs Oct. 26-Nov. 4.
