Event Coverage
Reed Midem to launch new DVD Awards at Mipcom ’04
MUMBAI: France-based Reed Midem, organiser of professional and International tradeshows and the official organiser of the 2004 Mipcom DVD Awards, yesterday announced the launch of the Mipcom DVD Awards to be presented on 6 October during the 20th edition of Mipcom, which would be held from 4 to 8 October 2004 in Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France.
According to a company release, Mipcom DVD Awards will reward creativity and innovation in DVD content and originality in DVDs that are related to the features enabled by DVD technology and not content or sales performance. The awards have been instituted in partnership with the DVD Association of the US (DVDA) and the International Video Federation of Belgium (IVF).
The release, quoting, Reed Midem director of television division, Paul Johnson, stated, “The DVD has established itself as a universally accepted format and is the success story of the audio-visual sector today. Apart from the high standard of picture and sound quality, we particularly want to pay
tribute to all those creative people who provide the additional DVD functions that make for such a wonderful viewing experience. Mipcom is the ideal International platform to pay tribute to the DVD creative community.”
A six-member International jury, chaired by IVF president Jean-Paul Commin, will evaluate the original content of the selected DVDs according to a pre-defined set of criteria, including web features and interactivity, programme content restoration, special features, navigation and graphic design.
“These new awards will honour creativity in DVD as an art form not just a medium”, DVDA president Bernie Mitchell said in the statement.
He further stated, “The members of the DVD Association are the experts in the field of DVD design, creation and implementation, and anxiously look forward to these new prestigious awards. The international forum of Mipcom will naturally bring world-wide attention to the accolades and will further enhance the incredible acceptance of DVD’s.”
The international trophies will represent a total of seven categories, including TV series (English language), TV series (original version non-English), children/youth fiction, children/youth animation, non-fiction (documentaries, sports and leisure excluding music), film (English-language) and film (original version other than English).
These categories exclude all titles containing adult content. In addition to the seven category winners, the Mipcom DVD Awards jury will also designate a Special Jury Prize, the release states.
According to jury chairman Jean-Paul Commin, “Because of the technical advantages and multiple content possibilities of the DVD, it has become a cultural asset which offers immense editorial possibilities and whose diversity can now be clearly measured.”
He added, “The organisation of an event which aims to reward DVDs of all genres and from all origins at Mipcom, is in line with the growing status of the DVD as a medium for cinema and audiovisual works.”
Submissions for the awards are open for companies wishing to participate for all categories, including DVD artists, developers, authors, designers, distributors, and publishers. A total of three titles per category per company can be sent for enrollment till 6 July 2004.
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.
