Event Coverage
Filmart main draw of Hong Kong’s 8-event Entertainment Expo
HONG KONG: It’s action stations Filmart at the first Entertainment Expo Hong Kong (which runs from 22 March to 6 April).
Season Nine of Filmart, Asia’s biggest exposition for film, TV and multi-media trade organised by the Trade Development Council (TDC), is the main draw event of Entertainment Expo, the inaugural edition of which has seven other major activities running simultaneously.
But it is Filmart, TDC’s business-to-business industry platform, that continues to grab the most attention, what with the attendance this year surpassing last year’s turnout by a long way.
2,400 buyers, 350 exhibitors (up from 2286 and 304 respectively in 2004) do not quite give a full picture of the kind of activity that is going on at Filmart, where deals are being struck in chance meetings, at the various stalls and even over meals in the many eateries that dot the exhibition centre.
Entertainment Expo was inaugurated by acting chief executive Donald Tsang at a gala event last evening attended by more than 1,000 film and entertainment industry leaders, including Chinese super stars Tony Leung and Jackie Chan.
The eight events are:
FILMART, Asia’s biggest exposition for film, TV and multi-media trade, organised for the 9th year by the Trade Development Council (TDC)
The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, a business platform for Asia’s filmmakers, investors, producers, distributors and sales agents, jointly organised by TDC and the Motion Picture Industry Association Ltd.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival, a rich offering of Hong Kong, Asian and international films, organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society.
The Hong Kong Film Awards organised by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association.
The Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Excellence Awards, a tribute to Hong Kong’s top companies and best brains in the digital technology business.
The Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum.
The IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards which highlight Asia’s biggest money-earning songs and singers; organised by IFPI (Hong Kong Group) Ltd.
Hong Kong Independent Film & Short Video Awards organised by the Hong Kong Arts Centre.
With the Expo approach, Hong Kong aims to capitalize on the synergies between these events and to make a bigger impact. Formerly, most of the eight events were scattered through the year.
Over the next two weeks, there will be more than 200 screenings of films from all over the world.
TDC chairman Peter Woo sees Hong Kong at the right place and right time for Entertainment Expo, as the city has exceptional reach towards a growing China, a growing Southeast Asia and an affluent Northeast Asia.
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.
