Event Coverage
ScreenWest, Singapore’s MDA partner for cross-media projects
MUMBAI: ScreenWest, Western Australia‘s screen funding, and Singapore‘s Media Development Authority (MDA) have announced the launch of the MDA-ScreenWest Cross-Media Development Initiative.
The aim is to encourage producers in their respective territories to jointly develop and exploit the potential of multi-platform intellectual properties.
The initiative ininvites producers in Western Australia and Singapore to submit proposals in any of the following genres – Children’s Programming, Documentary and Animation. Three selected projects will be awarded up to a total of $90,000 in project co-development funding.
The closing date for submissions is 1 December 2008 and the announcement of selected projects will be made at the Asia Television Forum held in Singapore from 10 to 12 December 2008.
The MDA-ScreenWest Cross-Media Development Initiative follows the Australia-Singapore film co-production agreement signed in September 2007.
MDA CEO Dr Christopher Chia says, “Currently, Singapore’s media companies already enjoy a strong working relationship with their counterparts in Australia and I am sure that this joint initiative with ScreenWest will spur more of such mutually-beneficial collaborations that will make their mark in the international market.
“Content that can be commercialised on multiple platforms will enjoy a wider reach and longer lifespan and the MDA-ScreenWest Cross Media Development Initiative is a step in supporting our media companies to rise to the challenge of the new media landscape where consumers increasingly demand to enjoy content on their own terms.”
Screenwest CEO Ian Booth said, “Screenwest is excited by this opportunity to build stronger ties between the two countries. We believe the development of three projects in the genres of children’s drama, animation and documentary will encourage further co-productions in the future.
“The bonus of this initiative is the development of cross-platform digital media which can be made in Singapore and Australia and viewed around the world.”
Media companies from Australia and Singapore have collaborated successfully on several fronts, yielding co-productions in recent years that include feature film The Home Song Stories, lifestyle TV programme 5 Star Insider, animation series Milly Molly and children’s sci-fi drama series Stormworld.
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.
