Event Coverage
Dunedin mayor calls for more co-production efforts in NZ
| MUMBAI: FRAMES 2003, the biggest global convention in Asia on the business of entertainment organised by FICCI, began its “preview session” today with the inauguration of a seminar on the technology of information, media and the entertainment industry. |
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The seminar’s opening session had media luminaries like E- Entertainment Alliance chairman Amit Khanna, NASSCOM president and E-Entertainment Alliance co-chairman Kiran Karnik, E-Entertainment Alliance co-chairman Harish Mehta and TiE Mumbai president Vijay Mukhi in attendance. The opening remarks were made by Sukhi Turner, the mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand. Calling New Zealand ‘Gods Own country’, the thrust of her speech lay on the possibilities for co-production of feature films. She pointed out that a few Hindi films had already been shot there and the beauty of the country was magnified by television shows such as Xena: Warrior Princess which airs on Star World and by the epic The Lord of The Rings (LOTR). Elaborating on the advantages of doing business in New Zealand, Turner said: “The industry is deregulated and we are competitive in abilities and cost, making it an extremely attractive option for filmmakers. Our favourable currency also ensures lower production costs giving you the opportunity to extend the potential of your project. It is supported by one of the most sophisticated banking structures and modern communication systems.”  In a PR initiative the director of LOTR Peter Jackson expressed regret at not being able to attend FRAMES as he was doing post production work on The Return of The King which is the final installment in the LOTR trilogy. He showed keenness on working with Indian talent as did Sam Neil who comically expressed anger about not having yet gotten an opportunity to feature in a Bollywood film. Turner said,” It may seem remarkable that a small country of nearly four million people could have nurtured such talent. But let me assure you that the talent pool supporting the film and television craft.” She named Weta Workshop and Weta Digital FX, Film Lab, Digital Post, Oktober as being some of the major film production houses. Other noteworthy companies include Fox’s Natural History New Zealand Ltd. which has made Emmy award winning documentaries. |
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.
