Producer Hub, an information-sharing and networking platform for producers from around the world pursuing international co-productions, has named Japan its 2026 Focus Country.
Producer Hub facilitates information exchange and networking among producers from different countries pursuing international co-productions and financing. Participants share insights into film production environments and market trends in their respective countries and exchange information on investment, production, filming, and support programs.
Each year, Producer Hub selects a Focus Country and spotlights the country’s co-production projects, producers, production environment, and support programs. In particular, it brings participants into direct contact with leading co-production producers recommended to represent the Focus Country, thereby enabling the exchange of country-specific industry information and strengthening the foundation for international collaboration.
Launched in 2024, Producer Hub selected Korea as its inaugural Focus Country, with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) serving as a co-hosting organization. In 2025, Canada was selected as the Focus Country, with Telefilm Canada serving as a co-hosting organization. Last year, a total of 154 producers from 25 countries participated. The partner network has also expanded from 8 organizations across 7 countries in Producer Hub’s inaugural year to 13 organizations across 10 countries.
From Project Pitching to Speed Meetings: Four Days of Programming
Producer Hub 2026 will run for four days from 10 to 13 October, one day longer than last year. This year, 10 Japanese producers will visit Busan to take part in project pitching and speed meetings. The program will also feature co-production case studies. The producers will present their projects, share information on Japan’s production environment, and explore new opportunities for international co-production with producers from around the world.
During the project pitching sessions, Japanese producers will present co-production projects currently in development. The case study sessions will feature cases of co-productions between Japan and other countries and provide information on Japan’s co-production environment. The program will also include speed meetings with the 10 Japanese producers and networking sessions for participants to connect.
In particular, follow-up meetings are being arranged with producers from Japan, this year’s Focus Country, so that conversations begun during the speed meetings can continue. These follow-up meetings are expected to move conversations beyond brief introductions and enable more active discussions of projects, production conditions, and ways to collaborate.
