Veteran Japanese film producer Muneyuki Kii has initiated a bold and transformative venture that has the potential to revolutionize the film financing landscape in Japan. After an illustrious tenure leading the Tokyo-based studio Toei, Kii has founded K2 Pictures, a startup studio with the mission to challenge the prevailing conservative approach to movie financing in Japan.
The groundbreaking initiative entails the introduction of a Hollywood-style model of film funding to Japan’s industry through the launch of a content fund named the “K2P Film Fund I.” This fund is dedicated to financing live-action and animated Japanese features, and K2 Pictures has already secured the collaboration of a distinguished lineup of Japanese directors for its inaugural slate.
The esteemed team consists of renowned directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Takashi Miike, Shunji Iwai, Miwa Nishikawa, Kazuya Shiraishi, and the acclaimed anime studio MAPPA. With this exceptional pool of talent backing K2 Pictures, the startup is poised to instigate a significant transformation in the Japanese film industry.
Muneyuki Kii, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise, assumes the role of CEO at K2 Pictures. He is joined by other distinguished leaders, including Tetsuro Koda, co-founder of Akatsuki, a prominent Japanese gaming and comics publishing company, and Fred Schmidt, the chairman in Asia for the investment management company BentallGreenOak.
Drawing from over 25 years of experience at Toei, Kii has produced an array of exceptional features, spanning both live-action and anime creations. Notable works include Hideaki Anno’s “Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo,” Takehiko Inoue’s “The First Slam Dunk,” Iwai’s “Kyrie,” and Miike’s “First Love,” among others.
The establishment of K2 Pictures comes at a time when industry analysts foresee substantial potential for international growth in the Japanese entertainment sector. The company’s pioneering funding model presents an exciting opportunity for investors in Japan and overseas to participate in high-profile Japanese entertainment projects.
In a formal statement, K2 Pictures has articulated its ambition to introduce a new approach that transforms the traditional film ecosystem into a “film production funds” model, inspired by the practices employed in Hollywood and globally. The company aims to enhance film production by distributing profits equitably among investors and creators, thereby fostering a more equitable and lucrative ecosystem.
To mark this significant milestone, K2 Pictures will host a presentation at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, featuring appearances by industry luminaries Miwa Nishikawa and Takashi Miike. This event is poised to be a highlight, spotlighting K2 Pictures’ vision and the potential for a more dynamic, fair, and profitable Japanese film industry on the global stage. With a growing interest in Japanese content worldwide, K2 Pictures is dedicated to captivating global audiences through its robust content pipeline.
In conclusion, K2 Pictures is on track to reconfigure the financing landscape of the Japanese film industry, creating new avenues for investors and exposing international audiences to the rich cinematic offerings of Japan. This initiative heralds an exciting new chapter for Japanese filmmaking, promising a more dynamic, inclusive, and lucrative future for the industry.