Event Coverage
Lucy Smith named director of MIPDoc MIPFormats & MIPJunior
MUMBAI: Reed MIDEM today announced that Lucy Smith, director of conferences for Reed MIDEM’s Television Division, is named director of MIPDoc, MIPFormats and MIPJunior.
In her new role, Smith will continue to manage all MIPTV and MIPCOM-related conferences in addition to developing MIPDoc, MIPJunior and MIPFormats.
“Over the past seven years, Lucy has done an outstanding job producing conferences that are at the cutting-edge of the key issues facing the entertainment industry. She has been instrumental in attracting world class speakers and making our MIPTV and MIPCOM conference programmes an integral part of the event experience. She has been a key player in the launch of well-received competitions and screenings and her strategic understanding of the documentary, youth and format sectors makes her the ideal choice to develop MIPDoc, MIPFormats and MIPJunior,” comments Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM’s Television Division.
MIPJunior exists since 1993. It is the leading international conference networking and screening showcase for kids and youth programming. MIPJunior provides over 500 buyers with the chance to view more than 1,000 programmes and discover new projects that are seeking funding.The event takes place in October on the weekend prior to MIPCOM.
Launched in 1998, MIPDoc is the world’s leading factual co-production, screenings and conference event held inApril on the weekend before. MIPDoc brings together factual programming producers and distributors with over 400 buyers who access in excess of 1,500 programmes and projects.
MIPFormats is the only international conference, networking and screenings event dedicated to the fast-growing formats community. Launched in 2010, MIPFormats provides unique access to some of the main players in the format business as they discuss success stories and major trends. The screenings showcase the best and newest ideas in the format sector.
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.
