Cannes – Record attendances at MIPCOM, more World Premiere TV and International Screenings than ever, a remarkable Japan Country of Honour programme, a Personality of the Year, Shonda Rhimes, who packed delegates into her keynote interview and a tour de force opening keynote from Sony Corporation’s President and CEO Kazuo Hirai, combined to make for a highly successful and memorable MIPCOM 2016.
At the main MIPCOM event, which drew delegations from 108 countries, attendance reached some 14,000 with 4,900 buyers registered including 1,500 acquisition executives working for digital platforms and SVOD. 2,000 exhibiting companies packed the Palais des Festivals with new national pavilions bringing together companies from Chile, New Zealand, Morocco, the Philippines, Russia and Japan.
Among the mega-productions on view, the World Premiere TV Screenings showcased Mata Hari, The Halcyon, ‘The Same Sky, The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s do the Time Warp Again and an exclusive episode of The Catch, Season 2. For the first time, two of the Screenings, Mata Hari and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, were open to the Cannes public who reacted enthusiastically to both shows. With Japan as MIPCOM’s Country of Honour, 500 Japanese executives from 104 companies attended MIPCOM. Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, sent a special video message to the international television community in Cannes welcoming the MIPCOM Country of Honour programme and the possibility to promote the best in Japanese tech skills and content.
On the conference front, Sony Corporation President and CEO Kazuo Hirai, opened the proceedings with his keynote during MIPCOM which saw the spotlight turned on Japan’s tech prowess with the latest developments of HD, 4K, 8K and Virtual Reality showcased alongside the newest animation programmes coming to the international market from Japan. The Undoubted star of MIPCOM 2016 was Personality of the Year Shonda Rhimes. In her various (and often combined) roles as Creator, Writer, Showrunner or Executive Producer, Shonda Rhimes is the driving force behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and The Catch. As part of the Country of Honour programme, Japanese star Kento Hayashi flew in for a special screening of Moribito 2: Guardian of the Spirit.
