K2Pictures Co., Ltd.
K2 Pictures Co., Ltd. launches in earnest towards the world
With the aim of “creating a new ecosystem for Japanese films,” we have established a film production fund originating from Japan.Furthermore, Shunji Iwai, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Kazuya Shiraishi, Miwa Nishikawa, MAPPA, and Takashi Miike have joined forces to produce films. Announcing the creators who will advance.
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In order to encourage investors from all over the world to participate in the fund and to promote the production of international works, it has been decided to hold a press conference in Cannes, France, where the Cannes Film Festival is currently being held. Takashi Miike, Miwa Nishikawa and other major new directors will also be on stage We would like to inform you of the full-scale launch of K2 Pictures Co., Ltd. (Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Muneyuki Kii), which operates businesses centered on movies and videos. K2 Pictures has set the goal of “creating a new ecosystem for Japanese films” and will work with investors and creators to deliver world-class films from a new form of Japanese film production. To that end, we will first launch a film production fund from Japan, and we will also announce the directors and animation companies that support K2 Pictures’ vision and will be working with us to make films.
In addition, in conjunction with this announcement, K2 Pictures’ vision and fund for the global market will be announced at Cannes, France, where the Cannes International Film Festival will be held in May this year, one of the world’s three major film festivals. We have decided to hold a press conference.
[Image: https://prtimes.jp/i/127042/2/resize/d127042-2-cf1da43656b15dce4b19-0.jpg&s3=127042-2-3c246f11d2d7537b6ad99100a92c831b-3900×2098.jpg] ■We aim to encourage domestic and foreign investors to enter the Japanese film industry and return profits to creators.
Launch of Japanese film production fund “K2P Film FundI”
K2 Pictures will launch a film production fund from Japan, “K2P Film Fund I (pronunciation: K2P Film Fund First)”, in order to “create a new ecosystem for Japanese films”. Specifically, in the film production of this fund, we will promote the entry of new domestic and foreign investors into the Japanese film industry and the return of profits to creators.
In recent years, the success of Japanese content has been remarkable, with “Godzilla-1.0” winning the Visual Effects Award at this year’s Academy Awards, and in the distribution industry, Japanese content such as Netflix “House of Ninjas” and Disney+ “Shogun Shogun” Works depicting culture are very popular, and anime and manga are also becoming more popular around the world, making the content industry one of the largest in Japan.
Despite this momentum, the ecosystem of Japanese film production has not changed for a long time. One of these is the current situation where it is difficult for new investors to enter the market, both overseas and domestically. Therefore, as a new option for the current Japanese film production, we would like to make it easier for domestic and foreign companies that are interested in Japanese content but have not had contact with it to participate. With the support of
BizAdvisors Co., Ltd., an accounting firm that specializes in the entertainment field, we have created this fund that has legal and accounting standards that take into account investments from overseas. Furthermore, it is difficult to say that the returns to creators in Japanese film production are sufficient. This fund will incorporate a system for returning profits to creators and staff involved in production. By doing so, we will create a system where many talents can continue to pursue their dreams of working in the film industry. In this way, by creating a new ecosystem of investors and creators who are indispensable to movies with this fund, it will be a great help to make Japanese movies an even more vibrant industry and to expand into the global market. It’s a goal.
The Cannes Film Festival is currently being held in Cannes, France, where many people from the film industry from all over the world gather to announce the details of the formation of a fund that embodies the form and vision of film production that K2 Pictures envisions. A press conference will be held at the venue.
■Shunji Iwai, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Kazuya Shiraishi, Miwa Nishikawa, MAPPA, Takashi Miike, etc.
Film production is underway with creators active around the world Along with the announcement of this fund, we would like to announce the directors and animation companies who support K2 Pictures’ vision of creating a new ecosystem for Japanese films and will work with us to produce films.
Shunji Iwai, who is popular not only in Japan but especially in Asia and is expanding his filmmaking opportunities in Europe, America, and China, won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for
“Shoplifters,” and won the Cannes Film Festival this year. Hirokazu Kore-eda, who serves as a juror at the film festival, releases new works almost every year, and his latest work “Gobangiri” won the Black Dragon Award selected by critics at the Udine Far East Film Festival held the other day in Italy. Award-winning director Kazuya Shiraishi’s second film, “Yureru,” was officially screened at the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, and since then, Miwa Nishikawa, who has continued to actively produce works centered on original works, has directed “Jujutsu Kaisen.” MAPPA Co., Ltd., which produces animations that are popular overseas such as “Chainsaw Man,” and Takashi Miike, whose new works always attract attention from overseas and has been invited to various film festivals many times, including the Cannes Film Festival. , K2 Pictures will work with creators who continue to expand their careers not only in Japan but also overseas, to produce films aimed at the global market. We have also received comments from creators.
Creator comments (in alphabetical order)
・Shunji Iwai
I definitely want to support Muneyuki Kii in whatever he wants to do. That was my pure motivation for participating in this project. As a producer, he is unparalleled and reliable. It’s like there’s no lock that won’t open if you put it on him.
Working with him is unparalleled fun. I think it’s because he has the ability to trust people. Throughout the ages, unconventional inventors are rewriting the era. This time he built a new vehicle for us. K2 Pictures.
It looks both like a car and like a ship. It can be an airplane or a submarine. When you climb a mountain, it transforms into an ice ax and crampons. This kind of flexibility and flexibility to adapt to any situation will become K2 Pictures’ distinctive feature.
With a team like that, even filmmakers can do their best.
I would like to repay this kindness by throwing in all the ideas I can think of. What kind of adventure awaits us?
What kind of team will they grow into in 10 years?
Anyway, I can’t wait for everything from now on.
・Hirokazu Kore-eda
I came across Mr. Kii and his team’s efforts while searching for ways to improve the questions and discomfort I had felt about existing filmmaking methods over the past 30 years. If this challenge is successful, a positive wind will blow in the film industry and opportunities will open up for new talent. I sympathized with the spirit of trying to realize such a future, and I was asked to join my team.
I’m looking forward to working together.
・Kazuya Shiraishi
I heartily applaud K2 Pictures for their courageous start. Please bring about a revolution in the Japanese film industry and break down the invisible walls. We hope to see the creation of projects that have never been possible in Japanese films until now, as well as
outstanding and unique talent. I also want to go along with it and make a movie that surprises the world. thank you.
・Miwa Nishikawa
For some reason, as I progressed through my career in the Japanese film world, I felt more like I was stuck on a dead-end rope than confidence or hope. I somehow felt scared to make any more films. So I turned my back on “movies” and wrote stories that traditional film companies and investors would never welcome. Then K2 Pictures, a company started by a person named Kii-san, told me that they would use new investment to raise funds and turn it into a movie. I wondered if he was serious.
Moreover, it opens the door to opportunities for creative projects by young creators. I thought it was worth taking on the challenge of K2 Pictures, which aims to create opportunities for new people and risky things with the necessary and sufficient funds and environment, rather than solidifying the idea with a safe tile.
In some ways, K2 Pictures’ funding and new distribution structure seems like a risky venture. In fact, it may not always be easy. But that’s the beginning of making a movie, and if I’m going to make a movie anyway, I want to work with a team that goes on adventures. Even more so if it has the potential to become a new career path for people who want to make films in Japan in the future.
・MAPPA
I participated in this project with the desire to support K2 Pictures in its challenges.
We would like to do our best as a partner in film production while thinking to the best of our ability as an animation studio.
・Takashi Miike
“K2 Pictures”. And about a suspicious man named Kii.
Kii = honest destroyer.
This is how I see it. It’s very powerful. And I believe that the source of that energy is kindness.
“Let’s make more interesting movies and be happier.”
Kii-san’s smile conveys such a simple message.
That’s why I believe in K2 Pictures.
■Press conference to be held in Cannes, France on Saturday, May 18th The 77th Cannes International Film Festival will be held in Cannes, France from May 14th (local time).
During the festival, on Saturday, May 18th (local time), at the JW Marriott Cannes near the main venue of the film festival, reporters were invited to present to the world the fund that will be launched this time along with K2 Pictures’ vision. We have decided to hold a press conference.
K2 Pictures Representative Director and CEO Muneyuki Kii, as well as creators Takashi Miike and Miwa Nishikawa, who are working together on the production, will also be on stage. Additionally, a major new director will be announced at this press conference, who will be making his directorial debut. Please expect by all means.
■New shareholder Strengthening the production system through capital participation and business alliances/Introducing fund legal and financial advisors
In order to strengthen the production system for the full-scale launch, we have acquired capital participation from new shareholders of K2 Pictures and entered into a business alliance.
We will also introduce advisors who support the formation of this fund with legal and financial support.
-New shareholder introduction-
・Inks Two Enter Co., Ltd.
Starting with a music production business centered on Vocaloid songs, we have disseminated a wide range of content centered on music. Actively cultivating online creators, it is also known as an up-and-coming artist management production company.
・Holomua Co., Ltd.
Big hits such as “We still don’t know the name of the flower we saw that day” and “My heart wants to scream.”
An animation planning company headed by Shunsuke Saito, who has produced animation works.
・WISE Pictures
Italian video production company. Produced the 2022 Cannes Film Festival Directors Fortnight opening film “L’Envol” (directed by Pietro Marcello) and the 2023 Venice International Film Festival opening film “Battleship Commandante: A Proud Decision” (directed by Edoardo De Anglis) are doing.
・MIRAI Pictures
A personal company of Yohann Comte, co-founder of French international distribution and production company Charade.
Yohann Comte was instrumental in having “Future Future” (directed by Mamoru Hosoda) submitted to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight, and the company’s name is derived from the film. At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, three films that I worked on were officially exhibited, one of which was the Japanese film “My Sunshine” (directed by Daishi Okuyama) in the “Un Certain Regard” category. -Business partnership with Iaton Entertainment-
We have entered into a business partnership for new planning and development with Iaton Entertainment, which handles all
entertainment-related businesses including video production, distribution, and consulting. As the CEO of Warner Entertainment Japan, CEO William Ireton led the production of blockbuster films such as the “Rurouni Kenshin” trilogy, “The Last Chushingura” and “The Unforgiven”, and is currently in charge of Sony Pictures
International Productions. He has also served as a member of the Japanese national team.
-Legal Advisor-
・Nishimura & Asahi Law Office・Gaikokuho Joint Venture
Lawyer Partner Hironori Inagaki
Lawyer Partner Yusuke Motoyanagi
-Financial advisor-
・Biz Advisors Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Certified Public Accountant, US Certified Public Accountant, Tax Accountant: Keiichi Kamizumi
At Biz Advisors, we believe that the realization of K2 Pictures’ vision for a new film ecosystem is an initiative that must be realized for the Japanese film industry as well, given the growing desire to invest in Japanese films from around the world. I am.
As an accounting firm specializing in the entertainment industry, BizAdvisors has been supporting the financing of Japanese and American films for the past 20 years. Together with our representative, Mr. Kii, our team is involved in everything from creating the fund’s structure to establishing its governance. By being involved in accounting procedures and disclosure after fund formation, we will provide support from the back office to ensure that domestic and foreign investors can feel at ease.