Elpis Selected as MIPCOM Asian World Premiere

Kansai TV’s event series Elpis has been chosen as this year’s Asian World Premiere at MIPCOM Cannes.

Taking place on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Palais des Festivals, the premiere screening will be followed by a Q&A with cast member Toko Miura (Drive My Car) alongside award-winning producer Ayumi Sano (My Dear Exes, Quartet).

Inspired by multiple true cases of false accusations, Elpis follows Ena Asakawa (Masami Nagasawa), a former network anchor whose star has faded due to scandal and now helms a late-night, less-formal magazine show. There, underrated and rookie director Takuro Kishimoto (Gordon Maeda) begins to doubt a death row conviction which, together with Asakawa, makeup artist Cherry (Miura) and star reporter Shouichi Saito (Ryohei Suzuki), they investigate and unravel a statewide conspiracy and cover-up.

Miho Okada, executive managing director at Kansai TV, said: “Though it deals with a serious issue, Elpis has darkly comedic dialogue along with a plot that will pack an emotional punch for viewers. We are very proud of what the amazing production team and performers have created, and to share it first in Cannes with our global industry is a privilege. We believe it is a show that will surprise in Japan and internationally this fall.”

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.”