Event Coverage
Warner Bros. Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler to give opening keynote at MIPCOM CANNES
Mumbai: MIPCOM CANNES has announced that Warner Bros. Discovery International president Gerhard Zeiler, will give the opening keynote in Cannes at the 39th edition of the International Co-Production & Entertainment Content Market (16-19 Oct). The keynote will be presented as a fireside chat in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Monday 16 October at 11.15.
A revered and accomplished executive on the international stage, Zeiler’s keynote comes almost 20 years after being honoured as MIPCOM’s Personality of the Year in 2004 when CEO of RTL Group.
Zeiler is expected to share insight into Warner Bros. Discovery’s transformation post-merger as well as lay out the company’s worldwide content and streaming strategy. Zeiler’s responsibilities for Warner Bros. Discovery spans strategic oversight of brands and joint responsibility for direct-to-consumer activity (including streaming service Max) across more than 220 markets; he is also responsible for local theatrical production, acquisitions, and country and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Originally appointed to the role in 2020, Zeiler’s remit extended to Discovery Inc. ‘s footprint in April 2022 following the close of the Discovery/WarnerMedia merger.
“We could not have a more relevant creative leader to be our opening Media Mastermind Keynote,” said Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES. “…with the industry at a pivotal point and global companies re-inventing for a new era. His presence at MIPCOM CANNES is a rare opportunity for entertainment execs to go inside the international strategy at the heart of one of the world’s biggest and fastest-evolving studios. A valued and hugely respected contributor to the market over several decades, his perspective on weathering such storms will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Gerhard Zeiler warmly to the Croisette in October.”
Zieler said, “Our industry is facing heightened disruption and undergoing a process of transformation. These are times of change but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to architect the media ecosystem for the next generation. I’m looking forward to speaking at MIPCOM about how WBD is putting storytelling first and refining and innovating to drive agility and flexibility to emerge in an even stronger position.”
More than 250 exhibitors from over 40 countries are confirmed to date for MIPCOM CANNES – the mother of all entertainment content markets – in 2023. Riviera exhibition halls and outdoor Croisette beach exhibition areas are sold out with an initial exhibitor line-up comprising major studios, production and distribution groups (including All3Media International, Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, Banijay Rights, BETA Film, FOX Entertainment Global, NBCUniversal International, Paramount Global Content Distribution, Federation Studios, France tv distribution, Fremantle, Global Screen, ITV Studios, The Mediapro Studio, Mediawan, Movistar+, Red Arrow Studios International, STUDIOCANAL, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery and ZDF Studios amongst many others).
MIPJUNIOR also returns to the JW Marriott in the weekend heading into MIPCOM CANNES (13-15 Oct) with a brand-new half-day pre-opening programme beginning at 14.00 on Friday (13 Oct).
The week-long MIPCOM CANNES conference programme helps define the TV industry year with keynotes from leading global players and thought-leaders, screenings of highly anticipated series and exclusive research presentations.
Conference programme schedule: here.
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.
