The first Japanese drama series to be screened at the main venue of MIPCOM, one of the world's largest international entertainment and content markets!

Masami Nagasawa: "I'm looking forward to seeing how people will be interested in this drama"

Kansai TV drama series "Elpis" will start on Monday October 24th at 10pm in Japan. Produced by Kansai TV, Masami Nagasawa will star in her first lead role in a drama series in four and a half years. The series was selected for the Asian World Premiere TV Screening at MIPCOM in Cannes, France which starts from October 17th. The screening will take place in the Grand Auditorium, the main hall of the Palais de Festivals et des Congrès, the same venue as the Cannes Film Festival.
This will be the first time in the 60 year history of MIP Market that a Japanese drama makes its world premiere in the main hall.

The MIP Market is one of the world's largest international entertainment content markets, organised and managed by RX France. It is held twice a year in Cannes: MIPTV in April and MIPCOM in October. MIPCOM held in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, attracted some 4,500 companies and 13,800 people from 110 countries and regions worldwide, including international production companies, distributors, buyers and financiers. Since 2010, the “World Premiere” has been held as an official screening event. Drama series such as “Mad Men” (USA), “Titanic” (UK), “The X-Files” (USA) and “Roots” (USA) have been screened officially at the World Premiere.

This year, with attendance expected to return to the same levels as before the Covid-19 pandemic, “Elpis”will be screened in Cannes as the “Asian World Premiere TV Screening.” This is the first time that a Japanese film will be screened at the MIP Market in the Grand Auditorium, the main venue of the Cannes International Film Festival.
This is the second time that a Kansai TV- produced drama has been selected for the Asian World Premiere TV Screening, following “CRISIS” in 2017.

“Elpis”is a socially conscious entertainment series inspired by several real-life incidents. The story follows Ena Asakawa (played by Masami Nagasawa), a once-prominent television anchor whose career was destroyed by scandal, and her colleagues, who work together to pursue the possibility that a notorious serial killer on death row may have been falsely convicted. The drama depicts how they gradually recover their sense of self-worth. Gordon Maeda stars as Takuro Kishimoto, a young director down on his luck career-wise who works alongside Ena. Ryohei Suzuki stars as Shoichi Saito, Ena and Takuro's senior and an ace news reporter.

The script, by Aya Watanabe, is her first drama series for a commercial TV broadcaster. The series will be directed by Hitoshi One, who has created numerous hit-movies and TV series. While taking on the serious subject of false accusations inspired by real-life cases, the witty and comical dialogue, thrilling plot and direction make this an emotionally charged drama. A completely new kind of socially conscious entertainment, “Elpis” is sure to amaze audiences not only Japan but around the world.

Masami Nagasawa expressed her expectations about the world premiere of the show ahead of broadcast in Japan, saying, "I look forward to seeing how people are interested in this film". She added: "I think many people will be able to relate to the theme of this drama. Some aspects will resonate with us even more now that we have experienced so much with the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope that each viewer will enjoy the drama in their own way, from the perspective of the story, the many facets of the people and their sincere thoughts.”

Masami Nagasawa, lead actress, comments
Q. How do you feel about the world premiere of this film ahead of Japan?
I am looking forward to seeing how people will be interested in this film.
I am sure that audiences all around the world will be able to relate to it, so I can't wait to hear people’s reactions to it. Filming is still going on, and I hope that the work we put in every day will make it will be a drama that will be loved for a long time.

Q. How would you like the international audience to receive your film?
I think many people will be able to relate to the theme of this drama.
Some aspects will resonate with us even more now that we have experienced so much with the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope that each viewer will enjoy the drama in their own way, from the perspective of the story, the many facets of the people and their sincere thoughts.

Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES and MIPJUNIOR said: “The global appetite for authentic, authored international drama has never been stronger. The standard has also never been higher, with Elpis yet another exceptional example. We are thrilled to stage it and to bring the tradition of the Asian World Premiere back to this year’s full strength MIPCOM.”