Event Coverage
Studiocanal sells ‘Midnight Sun’ to international broadcasters
CANNES: Europe’s leader in production, rights acquisition, distribution and international sales of TV series and feature films, Studiocanal has sold breakthrough Swedish-French drama Midnight Sun, a CANAL+/SVT/Filmpool Nordcoproduction, to a host of international broadcasters, it was announced today.
Produced by Atlantique Productions and Nice Drama, the 8 x 1 hour thriller series has been secured ahead of its premiere by ZDF in Germany, SBS in Australia, HOT in Israel,NRK in Norway, DR in Denmark, RUV in Iceland, MTV3 in Finland, VRT in Belgium, and Lumière in Benelux.
Starring Leïla Bekhti (The Prophet) and Gustaf Hammarsten (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Midnight Sun will first air on 23 October on SVT and later this year on CANAL+ under the Création Originale brand.
ZDF executive director, feature films and international co-productions, Susanne Mueller, says: “Midnight Sun is a wonderfully crafted, nail-biting thriller series and will be an absolute highlight in our 2017 schedule. It is a perfect fit for our Sunday late night crime slot, where we air the finest European crime drama. Midnight Sun is the next big Scandi-series with a twist after our successful coproductions like The Bridge, Modusand also the upcoming Springtide.”
SBS director of television and online content, Marshall Heald, commented: “Midnight Sun is Nordic Noir at its finest, delivering a thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seat to the very last. This truly international series offers sweeping scenery, compelling storytelling and stunning performances, and is an exciting addition to our program offering as we continue to showcase the very best in world drama.”
Lumière head of acquisitions & coproductions for TV series, Marike Muselaers, says: “We have been following Midnight Sun from a very early stage and we are thrilled to start working with Studiocanal on this topical, gripping and beautiful drama/thriller series. As both Studiocanal and Lumière specialize in bringing high-end quality TV series to the public, we are sure this will be the start of a long and fruitful partnership. Soon the Midnight Sun will shine everywhere in Benelux!”
Studiocanal EVP sales and marketing Katrina Neylon, added, “Midnight Sun is a beautifully shot, absorbing drama series which also raises real and current issues such as racism and damage to our environment. The series has hit a nerve with buyers internationally already ahead of its premiere, appealing to both Free and Pay TV networks and we’re in advanced negotiations to close additional sales in the coming months.”
Created by Mårlind & Stein (Bron/Broen), based on an idea by Henrik Jansson-Schweizer and Patrick Nebout, Midnight Sun is a high concept thriller set in a small mining community in remote northern Sweden where a series of brutal murders – which contrast starkly against the beauty of the landscape and the ethereal daylight – conceal a secret conspiracy. Midnight Sun received the Audience Award at SeriesMania in Paris in April.
Visit Studiocanal at MIPCOM 2016 at stand P1.A1.
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ZDF German Television is Germany’s national public television broadcaster and one of Europe’s leading public television corporations. It is run as an independent non-profit corporation under the authority of the 16 federal states that make up the Federal Republic of Germany.
With a background as Australia’s multicultural broadcaster, SBS holds a unique place in the Australian media landscape. As described in the SBS Charter, SBS’s principal function is to provide multilingual, multicultural and Indigenous radio, television and digital media services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians, reflecting Australia’s diverse society.
The Lumière Group is an all rights / all media Benelux distribution and production company, with offices in Ghent and Amsterdam and cinemas in Bruges and Antwerp. Lumière is known for bringing Scandinavian drama to the Benelux and has been among the first to pick up shows like The Bridge, Wallander, The Killing, Borgen, Springtide, Modus, The Legacy, Follow The Money, Occupied and many more.
Studiocanal is Europe’s leader in production, rights acquisition, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series. Operating directly in all three major European markets, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, Studiocanal has fully-financed recent box office hits such as Paddington, Shaun the Sheep and Non-Stop. Upcoming films backed by Studiocanal include The Commuter featuring Liam Neeson, and Nick Park’s stop-motion movie Early Man, with Aardman Studios.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
