Event Coverage
Mipcom Cannes unveils lineup for Mip Innovation Lab
Mumbai: Mipcom Cannes announced the full details and programme for its newly expanded Mip Innovation Lab, which brings together a high-profile lineup of key players from over 60 international companies for a series of thought-leading talks, summits, networking events and demonstrations at the forthcoming 40th edition of the international co-production & entertainment content market (21-24 October).
Covering the area at the intersection of content, technology and changing audience behaviours, and housed in a new dedicated purpose-built space within the Palais des Festivals, The Mip Innovation Lab will host a daily curated programme with dedicated summits on FAST, AI, streaming and connected TV aimed at equipping companies with the latest insights and introductions to potential partners in these rapidly evolving sectors.
“The fastest developing areas that are shaping the future direction of the television industry are now at the heart of the Palais and of the market.” said Mipcom Cannes and Mip London director Lucy Smith. “We’ve built a destination with a ‘who’s who’ of key players speaking, a host of cutting-edge technology-led companies exhibiting and unrivalled matchmaking opportunities. Everything in the Mip Innovation Lab is geared to helping businesses adapt, identify opportunities, find potential partners and unlock further potential revenue streams. We expect it to be energising, prescient and highly productive.”
Global Streamer Talks – New for 2024
A series of interviews by media cartographer Evan Shapiro with leaders from streaming and digital platforms on their strategies, market challenges, and effective collaborations. Speakers include David Eilenberg, head of content, Roku; Claire Basini, deputy general manager, TF1; Olivier Jollet, EVP and international general manager, Pluto TV, Paramount; Cédric Dufour, CEO & president, Rakuten TV; Maxime Carboni, chief business officer, Euronews; and Justin Sampson, chief executive, Barb Audiences. Starting on Tuesday, 22 October at 09:00.
Connected TV Summit – New for 2024
This summit covers the influence and innovations in TV operating systems, including user experience dynamics and advertising models. Speakers include key players from All3Media International, Anoki, NEW ID, Numila Advisory, Samsung TV Plus, TVREV, Veed Analytics, VIZIO, Whale TV, and Wurl. Starting on Wednesday, 23 October at 09:00.
Global FAST & AVOD Summit
An established summit at Mip markets since 2022, focusing on the international growth of FAST and AVOD through talks and round tables. Speakers include representatives from Banijay Rights, BBC Studios, Blue Lucy, Dataxis, FilmRise, Fremantle, Gracenote, Little Dot Studios, OKAST.TV, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, The Local Act, Tubi, Vevo, Warner Bros. Discovery, Whale TV, Xumo, and ZDF Studios. Starting on Tuesday, 22 October at 14:30.
Applied AI Summit
A day dedicated to demonstrating the latest applications of AI in production and monetization, as well as ethical and legal challenges. Leading companies include Adventr, Aive, Alix Partners, Banijay Entertainment, BetaSeries, Calliope Networks, DLA Piper, FanTrust, Google, Largo.ai, TF1 Group, Newen Studios, Papercup, Runway, Social Department, and Variety Intelligence Platform. Starting on Monday, 21 October at 10:15.
Why YouTube Matters: Engaging Audiences & Boosting Revenue
A session analyzing trends and opportunities in driving viewership and revenue on YouTube, featuring Neil Price, UK film and TV partnerships lead, YouTube, and Wayne Davison, chief revenue officer, Little Dot Studios. On Wednesday, 23 October at 14:00.
Insights That Matter: Fueling Your Next Strategic Move
A wrap session featuring three trend reports and takeaways from RTLAdAlliance, 3Vision, and Omdia. On Wednesday, 23 October at 14:45.
Partners for the Global FAST & AVOD Summit include Xumo, OKAST.TV, Vevo, Gracenote, Blue Lucy, Abema, OTTera and Tevefy; and for the Connected TV Summit, Samsung TV Plus and Wurl. DLA Piper is the conference partner of the Applied AI Summit.
Companies confirmed to exhibit in the new Mip Innovation Lab include Amagi, aurbit by Adease Media Intelligence, Dubformer, ElevenLabs, FASTHub by MuxIP and Largo.ai; with Bango, Dramatify, Digital Convergence Technologies, Motion Tech and Triforce both exhibiting and demonstrating within the new set up.
The mother of all entertainment content markets, Mipcom Cannes was attended by over 11,000 delegates from over 100 countries in 2023. The 40th edition takes place in Cannes 21-24 October 2024.
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.
