Event Coverage
MIP China Hangzhou to be held in May next year
PARIS: Reed MIDEM, the organiser of MIPTV/MIPCOM, has launched MIP China Hangzhou, the first ever MIP in China. The new event is designed to foster content development between Chinese and international production companies, as well as provide an intensive educational forum for Chinese media professionals to learn more about international TV markets and trends.
MIP China Hangzhou will run May 23-25, 2017, in Hangzhou, the lakeside city that hosted the G20 Summit in September 2016.
MIP China Hangzhou is organised in partnership with China Media Management Inc (CMM-I), the official representative for MIPTV/MIPCOM in China, and Zhejiang MegaMedia, organiser of the Zhejiang Provincial pavilion at the MIP markets in Cannes.
MIP China Hangzhou will combine two formats into one event. The Partnership Forum will bring together leading executives from up to 40 international television production and distribution companies with 40 senior level Chinese media executives for pre-scheduled, 1-to-1 meetings devoted to forging partnerships for global content development and production.
The attendees of the Partnership Forum will also have the opportunity to visit production studios based in and around Hangzhou – a major production and media centre in China that is home to companies such as Alibaba, Huace TV & Film.
The second element of the event will be a gold-standard professional training conference to share best practices in creating international TV and online hits, international distribution, and to explore content development in new entertainment sectors such as Online Video and Virtual Reality. 150 delegates are expected to attend the conference.
“MIP China Hangzhou will provide a much-needed platform for international programme professionals to meet with their counterparts from companies throughout China,” notes Dong Yue, Hangzhou mayor’s representative.
“Cross-border content development is more than ever a strategic choice for entertainment production companies looking to capture local and global audiences,” adds Reed MIDEM chief executive Paul Zilk.
Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is an organiser of professional, international markets that are essential business platforms for key players in the sectors concerned. Reed MIDEM is a division of Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading event organiser, with over 500 events in 43 countries.
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.
