Event Coverage
MipDoc 2004 shows improved numbers
CANNES: Reed Midems MipDoc appears to have done many shades better this year as compared to the 2003 edition. Held over 27-28 March in Cannes at the Noga Hitlon Hotel on the Croissette, the annual documentary market attracted 366 companies which was a 7.65 per cent improvement on the figure of 283 in 2003. the number of countries which attended also went up to 53 from a low of 42 in 2003, while the number of participants climbed up a pleasing 13.95 per cent over the 473 in the previous year.
While the number of new programmes presented went up 2.47 per cent to 580 (566 in 2003), the number of programmes presented dropped 10.89 per cent to 1031 (1157 in 2003).
What was most heartening however was the number of screenings which climbed 19.37 per cent to 8857 and the 350 programme buyers from 217 companies who made a point to attend the market.
While France had 62 companies attending, the UK showed a hefty climb of 78.57 per cent in the number of firms (25) who made a comeback to MipDoc. The US had the second highest representation with 49 companies followed by Canada (37), Germany (28), Italy (15), Spain (14), Netherlands (12), Hong Kong (10), Belgium (8).
The highest viewed documentary was Carlton International Medias The Ancient Greek Olympics followed by AETN Internationals Barbarians and Buzztaxi Communications Stupidy: The documentary in the current affairs category.
According to sources within Reed the upturn in attendance shows that confidence in the documentary genre seems to headed northwards which is a good omen.
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.
