Event Coverage
MIPDOC 2005 to showcase digital documentaries
MUMBAI: Documentaries in digital format will be the highlight of MIPDOC 2005, to be held in Noga Hilton, Cannes from 9 April to 10 April.
The annual event, organised by Reed MIDEM, will also feature conference programmes and panel discussions.
“With all programming at MIPDOC now available in digital form, we aim to make documentary viewing an even more enriching and enjoyable experience for the international buyers and show documentaries at their very best,” offers Reed MIDEM’s Television director Paul Johnson.
Co-organised with RealScreen Magazine, the MIPDOC “Programmer’s Showcase” to be held on 9 April will provide documentary producers with the chance to listen and talk to key channel programmers as they detail their acquisition and programming policy for 2005 and onwards.
“Along with the traditional business of keeping buyers in touch with the latest in documentary programmes, MIPDOC has become a forum for exchanging knowledge, views and best practices and this is reflected in our enhanced conference programme,” Johnson adds.
MIPDOC, RealScreen and the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada, team up on the same day for the discussion panel “What’s Hot in Docs.” New technical developments, innovative story-telling techniques, as well as new avenues for distribution and marketing, will all be at the centre of this panel.
Commenting on NFB’s partnership with MIPDOC, NFB Film commissioner and chairman Jacques Bensimon says, “with its 65 years of history, 10 Oscars in Hollywood and 11,000 titles in its catalogue, the NFB has identified its international activities as being central to its future. As such, MIPDOC is an excellent opportunity to meet and do business once a year, in one place, with the world’s documentary community.”
High definition will take centre stage on 10 April as Janet Anne West, managing director of British-based The Skills Zone, leads a workshop discussion on shooting in this increasingly widely-used format. Filmmakers and cameramen, who have worked with high definition, will be on hand to share their experience with MIPDOC attendees.
For the second year, MIPDOC will be hosting a special workshop on international co-production deals. The “International Co-Production Workshop” (10 April) aims to maximise producers’ ability to negotiate effectively with potential partners and will cover the vital elements of finance, creative control, ownership and production duties, informs the release.
Completing this year’s MIPDOC programme is the “MIPDOC Co-production Challenge,” organised in partnership with RealScreen Magazine and hosted by NFB’s Jacques Bensimon. Five selected projects will have a total of 10 minutes each to promote their merits to a panel of international broadcasters. Producers/directors who wish to participate, should send their entries by 3 March.
For 2005, MIDOC has introduced an ‘Early Bird’ participation offer, allowing six programmes to be registered at MIPDOC for the price of four. The offer runs until 31 January.
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.
