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Tag: Cannes

  • Demon Hunters is set to premiere globally in Winter 2024

    Demon Hunters is set to premiere globally in Winter 2024

    Mumbai: The spotlight turns to Cannes where the much-anticipated action-horror-comedy film, “Demon Hunters,” is set to reveal its first look.

    Headlined by the dynamic duo Arjan Bajwa and JC Lin, the film promises a thrilling ride filled with action and comedy that will leave you at the edge of your seat.

    Produced by Light House Productions (Taiwan) and Kleos Entertainment Group (India),

    “Demon Hunters” marks a historic collaboration between the two nations and is backed by the Taiwan government.

    Directed by the award-winning director Mei-Juin Chen, known for her work “The Gangster’s Daughter.” Demon Hunters boasts a veteran cinematographer in Tony Cheung for his masterful work on films like “Dragon Blade” and “Hidden Strike” starring Jackie Chan and John Sena.

    With a stellar international cast and crew, including Regina Lei and seasoned actor Jack Kao, known as Al Pacino of the South East and Harry Chang from the popular Netflix Series Gatao, the film is set to captivate audiences worldwide.

    Cindy Shyu, Producer, Light House Productions, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “‘Demon Hunters’ is a testament to the power of collaboration. We are thrilled to bring this unique blend of action and comedy to the global stage, and Cannes provides the perfect platform to showcase our vision.”

    Director Mei-Juin Chen shared his excitement, saying, “Creating ‘Demon Hunters’ has been an exhilarating journey. We’ve infused the film with all the ingredients of a wholesome entertainer. I can’t wait for audiences to experience it and to see how they react to the first look at Cannes.”

    Gayathiri Guliani, Producer, Kleos Entertainment Group, added, “Demon Hunters embodies our commitment to pioneering and setting the standard for captivating content for a global audience. At Kleos, we firmly believe in challenging limits and pushing boundaries.”

    Lead actor from India Arjan Bajwa expressed his anticipation, commenting, “Being a part of ‘Demon Hunters’ has been an incredible experience. The opportunity to collaborate with such talented individuals from across the globe has been truly rewarding. I can’t wait for audiences to join us on this wild adventure.”

    His counterpart, lead actor JC Lin from Taiwan, echoed his sentiments, stating, “Working on ‘Demon Hunters’ has been a dream come true. It’s been an honour to collaborate with such a talented team from Hong Kong and India and I’m excited for viewers to immerse themselves in the world we’ve created. And the ride has just begun with this unveiling in Cannes.”  

  • Over 200 exhibitors to participate at Mipcom Cannes 2022

    Over 200 exhibitors to participate at Mipcom Cannes 2022

    Mumbai: Over 200 exhibitors from 30 countries have already booked stand space for the world’s entertainment content market Mipcom Cannes 2022. The majority of returning exhibitors are back to their pre-pandemic booth sizes or larger, bolstered by the re-opening of major outdoor stands on the Croisette beach and surrounding the Palais des Festivals. The demand for exhibit space affirms a strong content sales and acquisitions climate supported by buyers and sellers to return to in-person international business meetings.

    RX France (formerly Reed Midem) has also announced plans to launch a new International co-production market alongside the exhibition in the Palais des Festivals dedicated to accelerating international co-production and development business in Cannes. Billed as ‘the mother of all entertainment content markets’, the 38th edition takes place from 17-20 October 2022 in the Palais des Festivals. MipJunior returns to its pre-market weekend schedule from 15-16 October at the JW Marriott Cannes.

    Also new for 2022 is ‘The Seaview Producers Hub’, an inaugural 1000 SQM (10,673 SQFT) networking lounge and event space, set against the backdrop of Cannes’ iconic sea view and introduced to reflect the increased focus at the market for exploring early-stage development and co-production partnerships.

    Created to be the base of the new co-production market at MIPCOM, the supersized Seaview Producers Hub will feature a lounge with indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate hundreds of daily meetings prioritised for creators, producers, commissioners, and development executives. The Seaview stage and curated areas will support the co-production programme and daily events. The Mipcom Seaview Producers Hub aims to become the annual business hive and fresh hang out point in Cannes for producers and everyone involved in co-productions worldwide, serving as a catalyst for international deal-making in the heart of the Palais des Festivals.

    RX France Entertainment Division director Lucy Smith said, “2022 is undoubtedly the comeback year for Mipcom Cannes. A healthy set of confirmations four months out from the market, with more being added daily, demonstrates the huge appetite for the return of a full strength Mipcom. And, unhampered by last year’s travel restrictions, to meet increased demand we have a supersized edition planned for this October in Cannes. More to come over the coming months. Watch this space!”

    Companies confirmed to exhibit to date include Zee Entertainment, All3Media International, AMC Studios,  Keshet International, Lionsgate, Mattel, NBCUniversal International, Netflix, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, WildBrain and ZDF Studios.

  • I&B Minister Anurag Thakur expects Indian M&E sector to double by 2030

    I&B Minister Anurag Thakur expects Indian M&E sector to double by 2030

    MUMBAI: Indian media and entertainment sector, which is currently valued at $24 billion is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2024.

    “I feel with the growth rate we have and I’m sure it’s going to grow more than that. By 2030 we expect it to double and even more,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told an international media publication at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival recently.

    “I think it’s quite lucrative and I expect a lot of people to come and shoot in India because our major focus is to make India the content hub of the world. India has a lot to offer, we still need to grow and go ahead from here. And I expect these incentives may help in the future to attract a lot of business” said Thakur.

    In the interaction, he also spoke about the importance of being competitive. “By the end of the Cannes Film Festival you will see the word has spread that India has announced this much – others may come with better packages and all that,” added Thakur. “In a competitive world, you can’t stop here, you have to keep moving. It has to be on a real-time basis, you have to compete with the world. It is not only the incentive — yes it is going to impact — it is also the locations, skilled and less expensive manpower and a huge domestic [India] market available for them as well.”

    He also spoke about the importance of the country creating content that can travel globally. “We have to create content for the world, not only for the domestic [India] market. Keeping that in mind, I’m sure if they [the West] could have Marvel’s superheroes, why can’t India?”. “We have a 6,000-year-old rich cultural heritage, we can showcase it to the world in a beautiful manner,” Thakur added.

  • MipTV: Docubay to double content offering via content partnerships

    MipTV: Docubay to double content offering via content partnerships

    Mumbai: The longest-running global TV market MipTV kicked off on Monday. Major international production companies, distributors and buyers showcased their ‘wares’ at the industry event that includes programming such as drama, documentary, kids, and factual formats.

    Last year’s edition of MipTV took place virtually and there is a bit of excitement about returning to the on-ground festival this year, according to the industry. The trade event that is held in the Palais de Festivals in Cannes, France brings together a rich conference programme, matchmaking events, and a dedicated co-production marketplace for international producers, buyers, commissioners, and distributors.

    This year, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Docubay (IN10 Media Network) and GoQuest Media Ventures are attending the event on the buyers’ side whereas IndiaCast, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, One Life Studios, and IndianTelevision.com are attending on the exhibitor’s side.

    As per media reports, Zee Content Sales, the licensing and distribution arm of Zeel, is bringing 40 new shows launched over the last two years to the marketplace. Zee’s lineup includes Bollywood films such as “Sooryavanshi,” “Sanak,” “Squad,” “Uri – The Surgical Strike,” “Rashmi Rocket” and drama series such as “Bhagya Lakshmi,” “Kundali Bhagya,” “Kashibai Bajirao Ballal” and “Baker’s Table.”

    On the buyer’s side, IN10 Media Network senior AVP acquisition and syndication Adita Jain said, “We are excited to meet our colleagues from the industry after two years. This year we wish to expand our content offering by 2X through content partnerships.”

    IN10 Media Network operates several TV channels and OTT platforms. It operates a factual entertainment streaming service called ‘Docubay’ and a recently launched kids’ entertainment channel called Gubbare.

    “We are looking to engage with new emerging aggregators and studios to find a home at our OTT platform, Docubay, for their latest releases. We are also hoping to renew existing partnerships and sign a few new ones,” said Jain.

    “We also hope to find the latest and innovative kids animation series for our kid’s channel – Gubbare. We are very keen to showcase anime, slapstick comedy, chase and adventure series,” she added.

    Post pandemic, Jain remarked that documentaries that find favour with audiences are the ones that are about world leaders, technology, electric cars, digital currencies, e-commerce, sports and adventures, and world politics. She will also be attending the session on ‘Factual and Documentary Trends’ on Monday presented by K7 Media.

    Recently, broadcasters have started developing unscripted shows based on a range of international formats and adapting them to suit Indian viewers. The most successful example is “Shark Tank India” televised on Sony Entertainment Television which is based on a TV format developed by Nippon TV called “Dragon’s Den.” Last year, Zee Tamil had launched the show “Survivor” based on the popular CBS unscripted series of the same name. This year, Viacom18 is launching a bold new unscripted format with “The Inventor Challenge” on its English entertainment channel Colors Infinity based on the American series “Everyday Edisons.” In the previous year, it had launched a reality series “The Big Picture” helmed by actor Ranveer Singh as the host that was based on a format owned by British production and distribution company ITV Studios.

    TV production accounts for 97 per cent of the content in India at 1,55,820 hours of content produced annually excluding 400,000 hours of news bulletins, as per FICCI-EY media and entertainment Report 2022. This is followed by 2512 hours of OTT content and 1972 hours of film content.  

  • Nippon TV heads into MipTV 2022 with three new formats

    Nippon TV heads into MipTV 2022 with three new formats

    Mumbai: Japanese broadcaster Nippon TV has unveiled one scripted and two unscripted formats ahead of MipTV 2022 in Cannes next month.

    MipTV is the longest-running international television market taking place in Cannes each April. The international TV showcase brings together global distributors, producers, buyers and commissioners of drama, doc, kids, factual and formats programming for a curated week of business meetings, matchmaking opportunities, exclusive market intelligence, conferences sessions, and global networking.

    The latest edition of MipTV will make a comeback as the in-person market on 4-6 April, after going virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

    “The three formats have been aired on Nippon TV to stellar ratings and we will be offering these titles at MipTV 2022 for the first time to its buyers around the world,” announced Nippon TV MD – international business development Mikiko Nishiyama on Monday.

    “Tall Order” is a scripted romantic comedy-drama series that follows the personal and professional lives of an executive assistant to the CEO of a startup company. While the unscripted escape game show “Dark Doubt” sees contestants attempt to navigate through the dark, another unscripted quiz show “Turbo Brain” tasks contestants with answering questions at breakneck speed.

    “In terms of our new unscripted formats, ‘Dark Doubt’ turns its back on the traditional notion that game shows are just funny and lively. It illustrates how fear is a universal form of entertainment that fascinates people. Using night-vision and fixed-point cameras in pitch-dark spaces, the resulting visual impact is quite amazing. ‘Turbo Brain’ tests the human brain’s ability to make instantaneous decisions­—a function necessary to survive. Viewers can immerse themselves in the show just like the contestants and take a shot at the quiz questions, whose difficulty levels are adjusted exquisitely so that they are tough to answer in a split second,” stated Mikiko Nishiyama.

    “As for our scripted title, anyone who follows our protagonist in ‘Tall Order’ will want to rally behind her as she tackles the endless impossible demands from her boss in the stressful office environment in solving the myriad of business and personal troubles, and then suddenly becomes promoted as CEO against her will,” Nishiyama further said, adding that, “the sense of romance with a cheeky colleague and a charismatic boss makes this story even more exciting. Nippon TV’s scripted formats that depict the lives of women, such as ‘Mother’ and ‘Woman -My Life for My Children,’ are receiving high acclaim globally, and I am confident that ‘Tall Order’ presents a story that will resonate with viewers the world over.”

  • Cannes Lions scraps on-ground event, goes the digital route

    Cannes Lions scraps on-ground event, goes the digital route

    NEW DELHI: Organisers of the annual gala celebrating the advertising, marketing, and communications network, Cannes Lions (International Festival of Creativity), have announced that the on-ground event will not be conducted in 2021. The prestigious affair will now run as an online event from 21-25 June. 

    The decision to scrap the on-ground festival comes at a time when France is witnessing a rise in Covid2019 cases. With a new round of restrictions in place, the organisers of Cannes Lions decided to call off the physical event. 

    "Over the last year, we’ve been consulting with our customers and working on our plans, including the development of Cannes Lions Live as part of the new Lions Membership platform. We are now able to move fully to this format for 2021 – which will have all the celebration, inspiration, and participation of Cannes Lions – to unite the global community virtually during Cannes Lions Live this June," said Lions chairman Philip Thomas. 

    Lions managing director Simon Cook revealed that Cannes Lions Live will also signal the return of the Lions awards. 

    "After the benchmark of the awards was paused last year, we want to be able to give our community the chance to immerse themselves in the creative work once again. We’ll be championing the work on a huge scale – tracking progress throughout the week, analysing the winners, delivering insights, identifying new talent – it’s the return of the benchmark and a moment for the industry to reflect but also look forward," added Cook. 

    Further information regarding the Cannes Lions will be unveiled in the coming weeks. It is expected that all Lions members will get complimentary access to Cannes Lions as part of their membership. Annual Lions membership is priced at €249. 

  • FCB bags the only gold for India on final day of Cannes Lions 2019

    FCB bags the only gold for India on final day of Cannes Lions 2019

    MUMBAI: The final day of the Cannes Lions 2019 witnessed India grabbing its only gold metal for the year. FCB won the Gold Lion in the Sustainable Development Goals category for ‘Open Door Project’, which it did for The Millennium School. The campaign had earlier won a bronze in the Brand Experience and Activation category.

    Another win for India came in the form of DDB Mudra picking up the Bronze Lion for Stayfree’s Project Free Period, also in the Sustainable Development Goals category.

    After a 5-day long awards gala, Indian metal count stood at 22 for this year with Dentsu Aegis Network becoming the most awarded. It had won 1 Silver and 5 Bronze Lions.

    Other agencies that won big at the international festival are TBWA Mumbai (2 Bronze), Grey India (1 Silver), Wunderman Thompson (5 Bronze), Offroad Films (1 Bronze), Mindshare (1 Silver, 1 Bronze), Leo Burnette (1 Silver), and Lowe Lintas (1 Silver). 

  • Dentsu Webchutney, FCB Ulka add 4 more metals to Indian laurels at Cannes Lions 2019

    Dentsu Webchutney, FCB Ulka add 4 more metals to Indian laurels at Cannes Lions 2019

    MUMBAI: Day 4 of the Cannes Lion 2019 brought four more broze metals for the Indian contingent across three categories. Dentsu Webchutney, that has won big on day 3 as well, bagged three more bronze metals. FCB Ulka Delhi also added to its laurels one Bronze Lion.

    Dentsu Webchutney won bronzes in Brand Experience & Activation and Creative eCommerce categories for its campaign Hagglebot for Flipkart. Its Voice Of Hunger campaign for Swiggy won one more metal in the Mobile category.

    FCB Ulka Delhi won the Bronze Lion for ‘The open door project’ in Brand Experience & Activation category.

  • Grey India wins India’s 1st Silver Lion at Cannes 2019 day 2

    Grey India wins India’s 1st Silver Lion at Cannes 2019 day 2

    MUMBAI: The day 2  of Cannes Lions 2019 awards witnessed Indian agencies grabbing on to several laurels as compared to just two bronze metals scored by TBWA Mumbai on the previous day.

    Grey India won the first Silver Lion for India for P&G’s Gillette ‘The Barber Shop Girls – Shaving Stereotypes’ campaign, in the Entertainment Lions for Music category. Wunderman Thompson India won five Bronze Lions in the Industry Craft category for Jimmy Nelson Foundation’s ‘Blink Test’ and ‘Blink Off’ campaign.

    Offroad Films won a Bronze Lion for Vicks’ ‘One in a million #TouchOfCare’ spot.

    India also got shortlisted for a bunch of campaigns across Creative Data, Creative Strategy, Direct, Media, PR and Social and Influencer categories.

    The shortlisted campaigns include Dentsu Webchutney’s campaigns for Swiggy. It has got 8 shortlists.  It’s also the only Indian agency shortlisted in the Social & Influencer category. Dentsu Webchutney’s ‘Code Name: URI – The Surgical Strike’ for the film is shortlisted in PR Lions. The campaign was also shortlisted for Lion in the Entertainment category but couldn’t win any metals.

    Mindshare got two shortlists in Creative Data with its ‘The Inflection Alert System’ for Hindustan Unilever qualified for the final round. It’s also shortlisted in Media Lions. Lowe Lintas, Grey India, Google India, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, and Cheil are the other companies that bagged shortlists for India. Publicis Singapore’s ‘Touch Of Care’ campaign for P&G’s Vicks has two shortlists in the Creative Strategy category.

  • DocuBay- a new documentary streaming platform previews at Cannes, France

    DocuBay- a new documentary streaming platform previews at Cannes, France

    MUMBAI: IN10 Media showcased an exclusive first look of DocuBay – its new, global, subscription-based streaming service and VOD platform featuring premium international documentaries at MIPDOC to a select international community of documentary creators and distributors.

    Along with this early preview for MIPDOC (April 6-7) and MIPTV (April 8-11) attendees, DocuBay also partnered with MIPDOC to present The Pitch, a blitz kreig documentary pitching session that acknowledges the most promising documentaries in the making for the year. Amongst, if not the most anticipated documentary event in the documentary fraternity, the judges for the pitches included Chris Hoelzl from Smithsonian Channel, Axel Arno from SVT, Bernadette McDaid from National Geographic and Akul Tripathi, COO, DocuBay.

    Congratulating Fairouz El-Baz; winner of the pitch for the Science and Technology category, and Zed Films; winner of the pitch for the Current Affairs & Investigation category, Akul Tripathi (COO, DocuBay) stated, “We are thrilled to introduce DocuBay to the global content community attending MIP, and to share our great passion for documentary films with audiences around the world. Humankind, as a race, has always had the uncontrollable desire to tell their tale. To save it for posterity. Etched in stone, sketched on rock, sung through the ages, engraved, embossed, stitched, typed, recorded, photographed and now filmed – documentaries are just the latest in a long series of the preferred repository of human experience. These cumulative/many experiences unite us as One Tribe, which is at the core of DocuBay philosophy.”

    DocuBay will be available in India with a distinctive global catalogue for Indian audiences, and several titles exclusive to the country. The global consumer premiere is scheduled for the summer of 2019 and will include India in it’s first phase.

    Making discovery easy through affinity-based categories like Nature, Action, Travel, Culture, and Science, DocuBay intends to further refine its ‘bays’ by analyzing watch habits and consumer surveys of the early adopters to DocuBay.

    Reiterating DocuBay’s commitment to the importance of discovery in the future of the digital content marketplace, Aditya Pittie (Managing Director, IN10 Media) stated, “IN10 Media’s goal has always been to deliver excellent content across genres and platforms, and we are proud to add DocuBay to our stellar class of brands. With consumers worldwide having more content choices than ever, DocuBay’s constantly expanding library of international documentary films will create its own niche through its focus on discovery and distribution. We are delighted to share this first look at MIP.”

    DocuBay will continue it’s exclusive first look at MIP TV from April 8 – April 11.