Event Coverage
Ficci Frames and market concludes on grand note
MUMBAI: The FICCI Frames and the newly launched content market as part of FICCI Frames 2018 concluded on a grand note.
The three-day conference and adjoining market saw the who’s who in the entertainment business attend and part take in the conference, in addition to buyers and sellers from across the globe and country engage in active meetings regarding a diver range of content.
The conference saw I & B and Textiles minister Smriti Zubin Irani launch the three-day conference and market and engage in a riveting discussion with noted Filmmaker Karan Johar. This was followed by a range of conference panel discussions that saw the likes of Siddharth Roy Kapur, Nandita Das, Madhu Chopra, Rima Das, Sanjay Gupta (MD, Star India), Ajit Andhare, Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Megha Tata among many others take part.
The first year of the content market was also a grand success, with the participation of over 100 buyers and festival programmers of Indian content and content sellers from across many countries.. With active meetings held across the three days, the international companies such as 102 distribution, Alpha Violet, Karma Films, Wild Bunch were also present.
“In two days I had about 35 meetings with investors from all around the world. I was successful in raising interest of a total of 5 million dollars which we will now move forward to close with the help of my producers George Merkert and Academy Award winning Tim McGovern from LA Based Whisper Pictures…The Market was so well organized…” said Reena NeGandhi an attendee of the market.
“…This content market will help to unite the production houses with best content creators and will change the phase of Indian entertainment ecosystem.” said Satish Narayanan, Founder, Design Media and Edutainment Solutions.
Furthermore 9 films including new Indian films such as Mudita by Swaroop Kanchi, Once again by Kanwal Sethi, Oh Shit! by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, Hamid by Aiijaz Khan, Ee Ma yau by Lijo Jose Pellissary and Rana Dugabbati presented C/O Kancharapalem among others were showcased to leading festival programmers from Venice, London, Edinburgh and Italy among others as a first of it’s kind initiative to fuel the discovery of Indian films internationally.
The three-day event also saw a special installation of the mobile theatres by Picturetime digiplex where the films were screened.
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.
