Event Coverage
Simon Cowell named MIPCOM 2014 personality of the year
MUMBAI: Entertainment industry creative icon Simon Cowell is to be honoured as the MIPCOM 2014 Personality of the Year.
The TV and film producer, music label boss and internationally-renowned talent show judge will receive his award at a gala dinner for industry executives at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes on Tuesday 14 October. On Monday 13 October, Cowell will give a keynote interview in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals.
One of the best-known faces on TV screens in the world, Cowell has transformed popular culture in the 21st century through his wide-reaching TV and music enterprise.
“Simon Cowell is a visionary producer whose television franchises are on air in almost 200 territories around the world, underlining his status as a global creative icon. In recognition of his amazing career as a creator of international formats and his formidable impact on the entertainment industry as a whole, we are honoured to welcome him to Cannes as the MIPCOM 2014 Personality of the Year,” said Paul Zilk, CEO of Reed MIDEM, organiser of MIPCOM.
Cowell’s Syco Entertainment is a world-renowned music, film, and television production company responsible for some of the most successful global music and television franchises. Syco’s television assets include the two international phenomenon formats: “Got Talent” and “The X Factor” both created by Simon Cowell. The Syco Music roster includes stars such as One Direction, Little Mix, Susan Boyle, Ella Henderson, Il Divo, Labrinth, Cher Lloyd, Fifth Harmony, Alex & Sierra, and Collabro.
Under Cowell’s stewardship, Syco Entertainment continues to develop global TV formats that have appeal throughout the TV, Film and digital world.
In April, “Got Talent” was officially named the World’s Most Successful Reality Television Format by The Guinness Book of Records. Alongside Syco’s longstanding co-production partner, FremantleMedia, original versions of Got Talent are now being produced in 62 territories worldwide. Emmy-nominated “America’s Got Talent” has been the No.1 rated summer programme ever since its launch in June 2006. Now in its ninth consecutive season, the show currently airs in 193 countries worldwide.
“The X Factor” is now produced in 49 territories around the world since its launch in the UK in 2004 where it remains the #1 entertainment show and a cultural phenomenon. The format has launched more superstar artists’ careers than any other TV format. Artists discovered by the show worldwide have sold more than 160 million records, including 170 No.1 hits, and 380 Top 10 records.
In 2002, Cowell became lead judge of the fledgling “American Idol.” By the final of the second series in 2003, a staggering 38 million Americans were tuning in to watch Cowell on the show. Cowell was the lead judge on the US “X Factor” for three years from 2011 before leaving to make his return to the UK show as a judge for its 11th season, which begins in August 2014.
In August 2013, Cowell produced his first feature film, “One Direction: This Is Us.” The movie debuted at No.1 at both the US and UK box offices, before going on to enjoy international success.
For his newest take on the singing competition genre, Cowell has teamed up with Univision to create “La Banda,” a series which will search the US and Latin America for the next Latino boy band in 2015. Syco also recently announced a ground-breaking new music show, “Ultimate DJ,” in partnership with SFX and T Mobile.
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.
