Event Coverage
Inaugural mipcancun a hit
MUMBAI:Television acquisition executives from across Latin America and international distributors praised the inaugural MIPCancun Latam TV Buyers Summit saying its one-to-one meeting format made for efficient business.
40 buyers from 14 Latin American countries came to Cancun to do business with 33 sales companies from Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Mexico, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Distributors included industry heavyweights such as A+E Networks, FremantleMedia, BBC Worldwide, Fuji Television Networks, and Viacom International Media Networks.
Reaction from the TV buyers to MIPCancun was upbeat. Construir TV’s Alejandra Marano from Argentina says “I’ve discovered 30 new distributors here in Cancun and am definitely closing acquisitions deals. What’s really great here is that everyone is more relaxed than at big events and really interested in my channel’s needs.”
International distributors also expressed enthusiasm for the new event. “I am very pleased about all the new buyers we are meeting here in Cancun and the efficiency of the event’s 1-to-1 meeting formats,” notes Sheila Aguirre, SVP of Content Distribution and Format Sales at FremantleMedia International, one of the first companies to sign up for the event.
“MIPCancun offers a very different style from other major events for the TV industry – more intimate, more private, with lots of occasions for encounters with buyers outside my busy pre-scheduled appointments. Also, I’m meeting people here who don’t attend any other market,” reports Iowanka Sanchez Sprehe, Sales Manager of Global Screen GmbH from Germany.
MIPCancun’s opening conference revealed stats from Eurodata showing the progressive growth of pay-TV in Latin America and the continued popularity of fiction as the region’s dominant genre.
“We’re delighted with the extremely positive reaction of buyers and distributors alike to the events’ 1-to-1 format and consider MIPCancun a resounding success in terms of the high level of satisfaction expressed by its inaugural participants,” says Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM’s TV Division. “MIPCancun confirms the growing importance of the Latin American market and the enthusiasm among international distribution companies to spend quality business time with channel buyers from across the region.”
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.
