Event Coverage
MIPDrama: 12 international screenings to be showcased
MUMBAI: MIPTV has announced this year’s official selection for the second edition of MIPDrama Screenings, which offer the international drama community, including 450 top buyers, an exclusive look at some of the most exciting upcoming series on the global marketplace.
The 2017 MIPDrama Screenings will be held on 2 April (Sunday) in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, on the eve of the MIPTV global entertainment content market, which runs 3-6 April.
Designed to meet the growing international demand for high-end drama series from Europe and other major drama-producing territories, MIPDrama Screenings is a premium showcase curated by the MIP Drama Buyers Advisory Board. The 2017 MIPDrama Screenings now include two categories: ‘Works in Progress’ and ‘Full Episodes.’
The selected new drama series will be presented at MIPTV in front of an invited audience of leading acquisition executives and media from around the world. This year, the event is also open to producers, distributors, agents and other executives.
A total of six awards will be presented at the Closing Ceremony. Two awards (one in each category) will be selected by a stellar international Jury of writers, directors and executive producers. The members of the prestigious Grand Jury are: Frank Spotnitz, Executive Producer and Writer, (“The X-Files,” “The Man in the High Castle”), Lars Blomgren, Chairman, Scripted Exchange, Endemol Shine Group, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Filmlance International, and Executive Producer (“The Bridge,” “Beck,” “Spring Tide”), Virginie Brac, Screen Writer (“Cannabis,” “Paris,” “Engrenages”), Ran Tellem , Head of International Content Development for Mediapro and former Head of Content for Keshet, Executive Producer (“Homeland”) and Jalil Lespert, Director and Actor, (“Iris,” “Yves Saint Laurent,” “Versailles”).
Two awards (one in each category) will be chosen by the TV Critics Jury, whose members are: Maureen Ryan, Chief Television Critic, Variety (USA); Benji Wilson, TV Critic for the Telegraph (UK); and Constance Jamet, Critic for Le Figaro (France). Acquisition executives in attendance can also vote for their favourite projects in each category.
“The MIPDrama Screenings showcase is back with an impressive line-up of drama series that once again illustrates the diversity and quality of global output in the field. In the lead up to MIPTV, this will give buyers exclusive insight into the best new series being launched at the market,” said Laurine Garaude, Director of the Television Division at Reed MIDEM, which organises MIPTV.
The 12 series that make up the MIPDrama Screenings Official Selection are:
WORKS IN PROGRESS:
Babylon Berlin (Germany)
16×60’ Crime
Production: X Filme Creative Pool, ARD Degeto, Sky and Beta Film
Distribution: Beta Film
Broadcasters: Sky Atlantic, ARD
Bad Banks (Germany)
6×52’ Thriller
Production: Letterbox Filmproduktion, Iris Productions
Distribution: Federation Entertainment
Broadcasters: ARTE France, ZDF Germany
Bad Blood (Canada)
6×60’ Drama
Production: New Metric Media & Sphère Média Plus
Distribution: Sky Vision
Broadcaster: FX/City
Better Than Us (Russian Federation)
16×52’ Sci-Fi Drama
Production: Yellow, Black and White; Sputnik Vostok Production
Distribution: Yellow, Black and White
Broadcaster: Channel One Russia
Ride Upon the Storm (Denmark)
2 seasons with 10 x 60′ episodes each
Production: DR Drama in co-production with ARTE France and SAM Le Français
Distribution: STUDIOCANAL
Broadcaster: DR1/ARTE
FULL EPISODES:
Clique (UK)
6×60’ Drama
Production: A BBC, GHP and Balloon Entertainment Co-Production
Distribution: all3media International
Broadcasters: BBC Scotland/BBC Three
Fearless (UK)
6×60’ Crime
Production: Mammoth Screen
Distribution: ITV Studios Global Entertainment
Broadcaster: ITV
Gap Year (UK)
8×60’ Drama
Production: Eleven Film
Distribution: Entertainment One
Broadcaster: Channel 4
Jailers (Brazil)
12×30’ Prison Drama
Production: Globo
Distribution: Globo
Broadcaster: Globo
Missions (France)
10×26’ Sci-Fi
Production: Empreinte Digitale
Distribution: AB International Distribution
Broadcaster: OCS
The Territory (Russian Federation)
8×52’ Crime/Mystery
Production: Sreda Production, Best Episodes Media
Distribution: Sreda Production
Broadcaster: Channel One Russia
Veni Vidi Vici (Sweden)
10×35’ Thriller
Production: HandsUp Stockholm
Distribution: Viaplay Nordic
Broadcaster: Viaplay Nordic
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.
