Event Coverage
GRB Media Ranch secures European deals ahead of Mipcom
Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch CEO Gary R Benz announced several European deals secured ahead of Mipcom 2024, where the company is exhibiting at Stand R7.A16.
GRB Media Ranch closed deals with France Television and Telefonica for God & Country, a political documentary by Dan Partland and Rob Reiner. YES Israel licensed Magnolia’s Hope, a documentary about a family coping with their daughter’s battle with Rett Syndrome, a rare disorder, chronicling eight years of their journey.
Heritage Films acquired the holiday feature Carol of the Bells and its behind-the-scenes documentary for several MENA countries. Produced by Joey Travolta and starring RJ Mitte (from Breaking Bad), the film follows a man discovering his biological mother is developmentally disabled. The film was created by Inclusion Films in partnership with Futures Explored and Options for All, with 70 per cent of the crew members having developmental disabilities.
GRB Media Ranch also secured paranormal content deals with JOJ Slovakia and Pluto Nordics. JOJ Slovakia acquired Death Walker (59 x 60′), where Nick Groff investigates the origins of America’s most notorious hauntings, and Aliens on the Moon (1 x 120′), a documentary special that examines alternate theories regarding the 1969 moon landing. Pluto Nordics picked up Death Walker as well as Untold Stories of the E.R., On the Case, and Full Force Nature for Scandinavia.
Benz stated: “GRB Media Ranch is going into this Mipcom with our highest activity level in our history with several great deals to announce, a major slate of acquisitions and a FAST digital strategy. These deals signify the diverse slate we have, and our partners trust us to bring them only the most compelling and premium shows that are sure to engage their viewers. Sophie, Liz, and Will are ready to meet with partners from all around the world at the market.”
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.
