Event Coverage
“Soap” to be added as a category at Festival Rose d’Or
CANNES: It’s international TV awards announcement time at the Palais de Festivals in Mipcom. After the iemmys, now it is the turn of the Festival Rose d’Or, which is being held this year in Lucerne in Switzerland.
Rose D’Or CEO Georges Luks announced that a new category “Soap” was being added to the seven existing ones, comedy, sitcom, variety, game show, reality show, music and arts and specials.
The shows apart, even artistes are being recognised revealed Luks. “There will be awards for best female and male comedian, best sitcom actor and actress, best soap actor and actress, and best game show host,” he said. Each of the winners will be awarded a Golden Rose.
He added that he was confident that the new categories will have an impact on the public interest in the Festival D’Or. “We have been getting positive feedback for the changes we have made as the Rose d’Or evolves,” he pointed out.
For the first time in its 43 year old history, the Festival, which will be held from 13 April 2004 to 18 April, is being held in Lucerne, in the heart of Switzerland.
He disclosed that high class comedy and music events have been lined up during the festival. An International Entertainment Summit has been planned for 17 April to be attended by global high power figures from media, finance, politics and science.
The organisation is organising a Trendsetting day in cooperation with SBS, the second largest private broadcaster in Switzerland. A competition for TV formats will be held whereby entrants can make live presentations of formats on paper. The winner will be given the Rose d’Or Brainstation of the Year Award. Two panels, How to pitch a concept to a broadcaster and Current Television Trends in TV programming will be held on the Trendsetting day. It has partnered with the United Nations to host the Bal De La Rose d’Or will follow the awards gala on 17 April.
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.
