SPI CEO Leon Forde to Moderate Panel at AFCI Power Of Place Thematic Day at Cannes Film Festival

Olsberg•SPI (SPI) CEO Leon Forde will moderate the panel Made in Japan at the Marche du Film, Festival de Cannes 2026.

Organised by Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) as part of their Power of Place thematic day, the panel brings together leading Japanese filmmakers, producers, and policymakers to explore how creative vision and production infrastructure intersect. From local incentives to global partnerships, the panel examines how Japan is positioning itself as a dynamic hub for international production.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Main Stage (Riviera) in Cannes on the 16th of May 2025 at 3:30pm (CET) and will also be online. 

Panellists include:

• Ruriko Sekine – Japan Film Commission

• Mariko Sugisako – Tokyo Film Commission

• Shin Yamaguchi – Knock On Wood Inc

• Ichita Yamamoto – Gunma Prefecture

More information on the panel here.

Read further information on SPI’s previous conferences and seminars here.