Event Coverage
9th MIPCOM JUNIOR opens in Cannes 6 Oct
As it enters year 9, MIPCOM JUNIOR, the youth screenings event held in Cannes from 6 to 8 October, will open amidst a hyperactive and rapidly changing children’s content market.
To cater to the growing number of MIPCOM JUNIOR delegates, an extra 30 screening booths will be added this year, bringing the total number of booths to 230, according to an official release.
Last year MIPCOM JUNIOR saw 386 companies from 51 countries and 418 buyers attending. A total of 771 programmes were presented and 12,572 screenings took place.
Kids’ programming faces new challenges. With the emergence of additional outlets – enhanced TV and the web – and children’s growing attraction to interactivity, producers are creating content suitable for a wider variety of platforms. As a result an increasing number of programmes are now launched with both broadcast and web versions. On the technology side, CGI development is offering vast creative opportunities and is driving programme production towards a new level of sophistication and eye-appeal.
However, the basic premise for children’s prgramming stays unchanged. “Innovation and creativity are the key element if you want to create series that will be picked up by the major channels,” comments Roberto Mitrani, director of international business, Neptuno Films.
As the competition between terrestrial, cable, and satellite channels for an unpredictable and selective young demographic gets tougher, it is essential to offer content that stands out. Producers must go all-out to crop up quality driven properties with innovative storytelling, strong characters and merchandising spin-offs that will provide broadcasters with longer-lasting brands and allow them to capture audiences.
Andy Heyward, president and CEO, DIC Entertainment – a pioneering participant – says: ” MIPCOM JUNIOR is an indispensable event for the children’s television business, the only conference where all the children’s TV broadcasters participate. I cannot imagine launching a new property without it!”
MIPCOM JUNIOR 2001 is a marketing event and learning forum with global sales opportunities and co-production prospects, the release states.
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.
