Event Coverage
“The Book of Negroes” to open in Cannes
MUMBAI: MIPCOM and Entertainment One Television (eOne) announce the exclusive preview of the forthcoming event mini-series, “The Book of Negroes.” The MIPCOM 2014 World Premiere TV Screening is scheduled for Monday 13 October in the Grand Auditorium of Cannes’ Palais des Festivals at 6.30pm.
Organised by Reed MIDEM, the 30th anniversary of MIPCOM will take place in Cannes, 13-16 October 2014.
Lead actress Aunjanue Ellis (Ray, The Help), Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr (Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men) and Oscar and Emmy winner Lou Gossett Jr (A Raisin in the Sun, Boardwalk Empire) are scheduled to appear at the screening, along with multi-award winning Director and Co-writer Clement Virgo (The Wire) and Executive Producer Damon D’Oliveira (What We Have). The star-studded miniseries also features Lyriq Bent (Rookie Blue), Jane Alexander (The Cider House Rules), Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line) and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle).
The mini-series is produced by Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment, eOne and Idlewild Films.
The premiere screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the director, producer and cast present. The talent will later walk the red carpet to attend the MIPCOM Opening Night Party.
A universal story of loss, courage and triumph, “The Book of Negroes” recounts the extraordinary journey of Aminata Diallo, an indomitable African woman who survives in a world in which everything seems to be against her. Kidnapped by slave traders in West Africa then sold into slavery in South Carolina, Aminata navigates her way through the American Revolution in New York, the isolated refuge of Nova Scotia and the treacherous jungles of Sierra Leone, before finally securing her freedom in England at the dawn of the 19th century.
The series is based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Lawrence Hill, which has sold more than one million copies worldwide (published as Someone Knows My Name in the US).
“The Book of Negroes” is made for Viacom’s BET Networks in the US and Canada’s CBC. World rights to the series in all media are being handled by eOne.
“We are honored and elated that “The Book of Negroes” has been officially selected for MIPCOM’S Opening Night Gala and that it will make its highly-anticipated premiere at the television world’s most prestigious and internationally-renowned event,” said Carrie Stein, Executive Vice President of Global Production, Entertainment One Television. “With the tremendous support of our partners at CBC, BET, Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment and Idlewild Films as well as the incredible work of our talented crew and cast led by Cuba Gooding Jr., Lou Gossett Jr., Aunjanue Ellis and Lyriq Bent, we’re extremely proud of this captivating, powerful and inspiring miniseries and look forward to presenting it in October.”
“We’re honoured to be hosting the exclusive premiere of this magnificent bestseller adaptation with its outstanding cast,” said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM’s Television Division. “eOne’s launch of this high-profile mini-series at MIPCOM underlines the growing importance of the World Premiere TV Screening as a key industry event.”
Watch the trailer 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.
