GECs
Kansai TV’s Elpis to be screened at content marketplace, Mipcom Cannes
Mumbai: RX France and Kansai TV have announced that event series Elpis will be this year’s Asian World Premiere at the entertainment content marketplace, Mipcom Cannes. It takes place in Cannes, France next month.
The event will take place on 18 October. The premiere screening will be followed by Q&A with cast member Toko Miura (star of 2021 Best Foreign Language Academy Award winner “Drive My Car”) and producer Ayumi Sano (My Dear Exes, “Quartet”).
Inspired by multiple true cases of false accusations, Elpis follows Ena Asakawa (Nagasawa), a former network anchor whose star has faded due to scandal and now helms a late-night, less-formal magazine show. Under-rated and rookie director Takuro Kishimoto (Gordon Maeda) begins to doubt a death row conviction, which, together with Asakawa, make-up artist Cherry (Miura), and star reporter Shouichi Saito (Ryohei Suzuki), they investigate and unravel as a state-wide conspiracy to cover-up.
Kansai TV executive managing director Miho Okada said, “Though it deals with a serious issue, Elpis has darkly comedic dialogues along with a plot that will pack an emotional punch for viewers. We are very proud of what the amazing production team and performers have created, and to share it first in Cannes with our global industry is a privilege. We believe it is a show that will surprise people in Japan and internationally this fall.”
Mipcom Cannes & MipJunior director Lucy Smith said, “The global appetite for authentic, authored international drama has never been stronger. The standard has also never been higher, with Elpis yet another exceptional example. We are thrilled to stage it and to bring the tradition of the Asian World Premiere back to its full strength.”
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
