Event Coverage
Ficci Frames 2002 sets forth ambitious agenda
Big. Very big. That is what the third edition of the annual global convention on the business of entertainment, Ficci Frames 2002, promises to be.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) convention, which has been growing in stature every year since its inception in 2000, will be held on 15 and 16 March, 2002 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Centre, Powai, in Mumbai.
According to the organisers, Frames 2002 will witness the largest ever gathering in India of some of the best national and international minds in the business – media and entertainment barons, movie moguls, stars, producers, directors, broadcasters, musicians, studio bosses and other global leaders in the business of film finance and insurance, a well media gathering was informed today.
There are 24 sessions scheduled with more than 25 overseas speakers from countries such as US, UK, France Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE having confirmed their participation. Some prominent names are James Murdoch, chairman & CEO, Star Group; Dr Patrick Cross, MD, BBC Worldwide; Yoshinori Imai, director-general, NHK, Japan; William Sinrich, president & COO, IMG; Jon Kirchner, president & COO, DTS, USA; Michael Connors, Sr. V-P (Asia Pacific), Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA).
Ficci’s “knowledge partner” -Arthur Andersen will be presenting the third edition of its report on the entertainment industry. The report will rank the states in terms of their investor friendliness and also focus on convergence. The other knowledge partner, solicitors Amarchand Mangaldas, will present a report on legal issues affecting all segments of the entertainment industry. This report proposes to deal with four key issues:
i) Rationalization of entertainment tax – legal issues and way forward.
ii) Corporatisation models for the film industry and other television and radio content producers.
iii) Model guidelines for banks/financial institutions for facilitating lending to this sector.
iv) Model guidelines for executive orders for protection of IPR & structured anti-piracy campaign by the government.
For the first time in India, in conjunction with Frames 2002, Ficci is also organizing a Digital Cinema screening of a feature film.
The session on marketing will have some very eminent speakers from India and abroad including William Sinrich, president & COO, IMG, Jane Gorard, director, marketing, BBC Worldwide, Sanjiv Gupta from Coca Cola, Sameer Nair from Star and Brian Tellis from Fountainhead. The session will be chaired by Sunil Alagh, MD, Britannia Industries Ltd. The session will focus on the key marketing trends in the entertainment sector and how entertainment products can be leveraged for value creation.
Finance and legal issues once again assume significance in view of the focus of Ficci and Frames on corporatisation of the Indian entertainment industry. The entire gamut of financing, valuations, insurance, legal framework, governing entertainment industry will be discussed by eminent experts both from India and abroad.
The Technology session of Frames 2002 includes many distinguished speakers such as John Kirchner of Digital Theater Systems, USA who will discuss the advances in the technology of multichannel sound for film and television and how this enhances the audience’s involvement in a program.
James Butler of Ideal Broadcasting will discuss the design aspects of television studios and Avinash Fotedar of SGI India will discuss some of the advancements in the tools available to film-makers today including powerful 3D modelling, editing, compositing and special effects hardware and software that allows the creation of virtually any environment that one can imagine.
Stephane Jauroyou of SeaChange International will make a presentation on the technology of video and audio servers that can open new markets in video on demand, selective advertising, broadcast playout and internet streaming. Other speakers will discuss the latest developments in the film, video and audio technology and the coming advances of the digital future. The Technology session will be chaired by AK Das of Snell and Wilcox; a manufacturer of high quality digital video processing equipment.
Frames 2002 will have a trading hub at the convention venue on 15 & 16 March 2002. The trading hub is seen as a networking opportunity where several professionals would be able establish contacts, gather information concerning new technologies and development of markets, establish international co-production and possibly lay the foundation for new partnerships.
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.
