Event Coverage
Neeraj Roy is jury chairperson for Mipcom Mobile TV Awards
MUMBAI: Hungama Mobile MD and CEO Neeraj Roy is part of the grand jury for Mipcom 2007 Mobile and Internet TV Awards as chairperson.
Mipcom 2007, the world‘s audiovisual and digital content market, is showcasing the awards at its 24th edition at Palais des Festivals, Cannes.
Roy will speak on ‘Indian content on the move‘ on 8 October and will discuss this year‘s mobile and internet TV judging and the findings of the grand jury with the host. He will reveal some important facts about the mobile market, the nominated projects and internet video.
Roy said, “I am very happy to partner with Mipcom to give an international exposure to the Indian entertainment industry which has matured enough to compete globally. Quality content will continue to be a crucial driver for the development of media in India and indeed everywhere, and we look forward to delivering the very best of India at Mipcom in October.”
“We see mobile medium has the potential to create a level-playing-field for film makers and other content creators, where a new visual language was in the process of being born, as demonstrated by the entries in the ‘Best short film shot on Mobile‘ category. Especially in countries where internet is not as dominant, mobile is the first screen of importance,” he added.
Roy who is also director of mobile entertainment forum – Asia chapter, was awarded the ‘Sun Microsystems-Economic Times Young Leader‘ award in 2001 and voted as one of the 25 young leaders in the new millennium by Business India.
He is associated with bodies such as CII, Ficci-FRAMES, TiE apart from being a regular speaker at both international and domestic conventions on subjects like digital marketing, mobile entertainment and entertainment marketing.
For the awards, the preselection jury has shortlisted 32 projects across 9 categories. They incorporate new format genres and terms being invented, such as vodcasts, graphic-novels, or interactive games based on factual TV programmes. It has received entries from 38 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.
