MANILA, Philippines?Local film and animation firms piqued the interest of international clients at a recent trade fair in Japan, enabling them to secure close to $1 million worth of deals.

According to data from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Hubo Productions, a Mandaluyong-based independent production house, garnered the most trade inquiries among all 10 Philippine participating companies at the 7th Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market (Tiffcom).

Local subtitling and dubbing company Beginnings at Twenty Plus likewise got a lot of inquiries, mostly from companies that it had already done some work for, indirectly.

Most of those that inquired about Beginnings at Twenty Plus' services discovered that the firms they had outsourced jobs to had tapped the dubbing and subtitling firm to do the work for them. With Tiffcom, Beginnings at Twenty Plus could deal with more direct clients and provide them with more cost-efficient rates.

The full-length 3D animated film RPG Metanoia, the entry of Star Cinema, Ambient Media, and Thaumatrope Animation to the Metro Manila Film Festival, likewise generated a lot of interest among Tiffcom attendees, including network giant Turner Entertainment Networks Asia.

Production companies from China, Malaysia and Thailand also broached the possibility of co-producing the 3D animated flick in their countries.

This buyer response made RPG Metanoia the country's best-selling offering at Tiffcom.

Another door that was opened to the Philippine participants at Tiffcom was the possibility of participating in different international film and animation festivals in Asia and Europe. This would allow local production houses to market their products and at the same time gain international recognition.

"As a relative newcomer in the industry, Tiffcom provided the platform for us to interact with people in the industry within and outside the region, see the trends and get insights on what is relevant in today's film market and business, and market what our company has to offer,'' Hubo Productions president Gregory Macaraeg said.

The local Tiffcom participants, which were united under the "Creative Philippines'' banner, included Ambient Media, Beginnings at Twenty Plus, Cinemanila, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Holycow Animation, Hubo Productions, Pelikula Red, Sinag Studios and Unitel Pictures.