Event Coverage
UK prodn company comes out with Holyfield doc
MUMBAI: UK production company JH2 Media has announced that it has made a one-hour documentary on one of the greatest boxers and sporting legends of all time, Evander Holyfield titled The Real Deal. It is available to licence and the company will bring the programme to MipTV which takes place in Cannes from 11-15 April 2005.
The Real Deal was shot throughout last year and had unprecedented access to the man himself, to his family, friends and business associates.
The story, which follows Evander’s comeback fight against James Toney offers an insight into the boxing hero, his $200 million fortune, his public life. Also in focus is the infamous brutal ear-biting incident with his nemesis Mike Tyson, his business empire, his turbulent personal life and his incredible rise from poverty to become undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Holyfield will be flying in to make a special guest appearance promoting The Real Deal at MipTV 2005. He says, “Over the years I have had so much controversial press, I’m just thankful that Jennifer gave me the opportunity to set the record straight, funny I thought this opening would have gone through a US producer, but the UK got the edge and the scoop.”
JH2’s MD and The Real Deal’s executive producer Jennifer Hughes says, “Evander and his people have been great throughout the whole process and we have been able to create the piece of programming we had always envisaged.
“I have had the opportunity to interview a number of A list celebrities with all kinds of trappings of wealth, whilst Evander falls into that category, it was so refreshing to see that his fortune has no real influence on his humble personality. He was just so kind and honest, I guess it was perfect timing, Evander wanted to talk and JH2 were right there.”
The documentary is the latest in a string of programmes produced by JH2 Media. JH2 Media has also announced that they have secured an international co-distribution partnership with Sports Entertainment Television, who are responsible for various network territories.
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.
