Event Coverage
FILMART kicks off, seven India exhibitors participating
HONG KONG: The 21st edition of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) commenced today for a four-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year’s FILMART welcomes more than 800 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions.
In addition to major film companies in Hong Kong, many overseas exhibitors have set up pavilions at FILMART to promote their local entertainment productions, including countries like United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, Korea, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam. India’s presence has gone up to include seven exhibitors this year with more than 120 visitors registered from India to attend.
More than 330 exhibitors from 15 Belt and Road countries are also taking part in FILMART to tap global opportunities which include those from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland, Indonesia, Cambodia, Turkey and Mongolia.
Many Hong Kong film companies are returning to FILMART in this year’s edition, which include China 3D Digital Entertainment Ltd, Distribution Workshop, Edko Films, Emperor Entertainment Group, Media Asia, Mega-Vision Project Workshop Ltd, Mei Ah Entertainment Group, One Cool Pictures Ltd, Pegasus Entertainment and TVBI. Fantastic Television Limited. Digital Domain and Fox Networks Group are the first timers to promote their latest entertainment productions to global buyers.
This year, FILMART sees the participation of over 220 exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, the largest number in the event’s history. Many cities and provinces, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong and Hangzhou, are returning with regional pavilions, while governments of Ningbo and Fujian are joining the show for the first time.
Various seminars are being held here including for documentaries and a number of screenings of award-winning documentaries will be held during the event for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the genre.
Digital entertainment is another highlight of FILMART this year. The Hong Kong Animation & Digital Entertainment pavilion, sponsored by CreateHK, gathers more than 30 local digital entertainment companies featuring their services, including digital production and special effects, post production, mobile apps, smartphone games and multimedia design, such as 360-degree photography and virtual reality (VR) and two seminars related to digital production and special effects will be held
Along with the three founding events the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART), the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) and the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA)the HKA Filmart includes : the Hong Kong–Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival (HKAMF), the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award, ifva (Incubator for Film & Visual Media in Asia Festival), the Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit, the Digital Entertainment Summit and TV World International Forum.
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.
