Event Coverage
MIPTV: Digital fronts to showcase latest programming alongside content creation brands
MUMBAI: MIPTV 2017 will put a special emphasis on the new generation of digital content studios aiming at engaging with audiences as part of the Digital Fronts showcase.
The only international screenings showcase for digital studios and online publishers, Digital Fronts takes place in Cannes from 3-6 April as part of MIPTV, the global entertainment content market.
Launched in 2014 as the content industry’s first global distribution and acquisition market for high-quality original online productions and web series, MIPTV’s Digital Fronts’ purpose is to bridge the gap between the online video ecosystem and the traditional entertainment content sector. Digital native studios and brands that have turned into content houses themselves will be at the epicentre of the discussion on how to reach the youth audience, which is facing an ever-growing demand for screen-time attention.
Jukin Media, the global entertainment company powered by user-generated video content, and Zoomin Studios, the new production arm of MTG’s Zoomin, will be making their debut at Digital Fronts. They will join returning digital frontrunners AwesomenessTV, New Form, Studio 71 and Vice Media, who will also be showcasing their content to the MIPTV audience.
Alongside these digital studios, MIPTV will also feature a special spotlight on brands at the forefront of content creation that have launched their own studios. In a session entitled “Turning Brands into Content Studios” scheduled for Tuesday 4 April, Marriott Intl. (USA) VP Global Creative and Content Marketing David Beebe, Wargaming (Russia) project manager Valeriya Tsygankova and PepsiCo Content Studio (USA) GM Lou Arbetter will explore how brands can no longer be around the content but must be the content in a world where the audience is more solicited than ever. This panel is part of an overall brands initiative at MIPTV.
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.
