Taipei and Tokyo Film Fund Launches in Japan

A new investment vehicle called Daily Capital opened for business at the TIFFCOM market in Tokyo. The fund debuted on the opening day of the festival's project showcase, specifically at an event dedicated to original Taiwanese content.

Founder Chang Chen-yu stated that the fund has secured 70% of its NT$100 million, or approximately $3.1 million, fundraising goal. The organization intends to begin operations by the end of the year. Chang noted that the name reflects a commitment to steady, daily progress rather than sporadic bursts of activity.

Daily Capital plans to invest in at least five projects across film, television, and animation over its first two years. Chang explained that the fund will typically enter projects during development or pre-production. The goal is to assist with script discussions and core team assembly while aiming for a primary capital recovery period of within three years.

The fund has established strategic partnerships in Japan to leverage local resources. K2 Pictures, founded by producer Kii Muneyuki, will serve as a co-development partner. That company works with prominent Japanese filmmakers, including Iwai Shunji, Miike Takashi, Nishikawa Miwa, and Kore-eda Hirokazu. Remow will provide access to IP libraries and distribution networks. Remow is backed by major media companies such as Shueisha, Toei, Amuse, Shochiku, TBS Holdings, and Fuji Media Holdings.

The strategy combines Japanese intellectual property and production expertise with Taiwan's flexible financing structures. The fund also plans to utilize local production incentives to reach audiences beyond Japanese and Mandarin-speaking markets. Its first announced investment is the series “Love Ends in Bloom.”

The series is a 10-episode historical romance set in 1930s Chiayi and Alishan. It follows a Japanese geisha who arranges a cross-border marriage to save her mother and later develops a relationship with a Taiwanese timber magnate. The story is set against the backdrop of the Japanese colonial period, specifically during the height of Taiwan's cypress industry. The project originated from Chang's 2023 return to his hometown of Chiayi, where station renovations prompted him to examine local forestry and railway history.

Juliana Hsu, who wrote the period drama “Gold Leaf,” authored the script. Sun Jie-heng, known for the wartime drama “Three Tears in Borneo,” will direct. Filming is scheduled to start in February 2027, with a targeted release in mid-2028. Chang said the fund will measure success by reaching Japanese broadcasters, regional platforms, and global streamers while meeting projected financial returns.