Event Coverage
Increased presence at MIPDOC 2005
CANNES: Reed Midem’s two-day documentary market that precedes the annual MipTV in sunny Cannes this weekend continues to prosper with an increasing presence over preceding years.
The total companies registered for the event have gone up from 357 in 2004 to 374, a five per cent increase, while the total companies represented too has gone up from 53 last year to 59 last year. The total number of participants, say officials at the Noga Hilton Hotel on the Croissette, where the market is held, has also registered an increase – from 579 in 2004 to 679 this year, a rise of 17 per cent.
Among the first-time companies at the market this year are Argentina, Estonia, Iceland, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, New Zealand, Ukraine and Vietnam.
The top 10 programmes listed at the MIPDOC, according to officials, have come from France, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Australia, Spain and the Netherlands.
POPE JOHN PAUL II, IRAQ WAR, OSAMA HOT TOPICS
Hot shows this year revolve around Pope John Paul II, the Iraq war, Osama bin Laden, Hitler, the environment and animal life. History and civilisation have the most documentaries, comprising a whopping 20 per cent of the whole. A significant 18 per cent of the documentaries presented focus on current affairs, 14 per cent on art, music and culture, nine per cent on science and knowledge. Eight per cent of the shows revolve around nature and wildlife. The number of programmes presented too has gone up to 1,053 from 1,031 last year, while the number of new programmes this year is 599, as against 580 last year.
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.
