Event Coverage
MIPCOM: Beta Film delivers interactive TV-event ‘The Verdict’ throughout Europe
CANNES: The interactive TV-event The Verdict continues its roll-out throughout Europe and will be simultaneously broadcast in six countries with additional territories to follow. The MOOVIE production by Oliver Berben (“Shades of Guilt”, “Hotel Adlon – A Family Saga”) will be screened in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Slovakia and live in Cannes/France for the MIPCOM 2016 audience on primetime this Monday night. In addition to the new agreements with Czech Republic and Slovakia Beta Film also secured a contract with Denmark’s DR, which will broadcast the program later this year. Negotiations with several European key territories are underway.
The legal thriller The Verdict (90’), directed by Lars Kraume (“The People vs. Fritz Bauer”), is the latest in a row of joint projects of Oliver Berben and Beta Film and circles around the legal question whether it might be justified to shoot down a civilian plane converted into a deadly suicide missile. The movie, which has already stirred controversial discussions, will be shown on 100 screens in cinema prior to its broadcast.
TV professionals, executives and journalists attending MIPCOM will judge after the screening as viewers will do across Europe. The event, hosted by Beta Film, will take place on Monday, October 17th, 8.15 pm, at C 21 Grand Beach, La Croisette, Cannes.
The case: Terrorists hijack a civil airplane and force the pilot to set course for a sold-out football stadium. At the last minute and against the explicit orders of his wing commander, a German air force pilot shoots down the airplane before it crashes into the stadium. Having saved the lives of tens of thousands but killing all passengers on board, he now faces charges for his action in court.
The concept: The audience witnesses the trial and have to judge for themselves by voting live online, via telephone or text message: guilty or innocent? The vote will be moderated in each country by local anchormen. Depending on the outcome, either the conviction or the acquittal of the pilot will be broadcasted, followed by high ranking political talk shows, turning a linear fictional program into an interactive, captivating, and unpredictable TV happening.
The show is based on the stage play “Terror” by bestseller author Ferdinand von Schirach (“Shades of Guilt”) and stars Florian David Fitz (“Vincent Wants to Sea”), Burghart Klaussner (“The White Ribbon”), Martina Gedeck (“Lives of Others”), and Lars Eidinger (“Clouds of Sils Maria”). The Verdict is an Oliver Berben production by MOOVIE in co-production with ARD Degeto and rbb. World sales are handled by Beta Film.
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.
