Hindi
Animation and film folk to get together at first Animated Feature Forum on 23 August
MUMBAI: Professionals from both the film and animation industry are set to have their first joint interaction at the Animation Xpress Animated Feature Forum (AFF), which has its big ticket premiere on 23 August in Mumbai. The focus of this conference will lie on the future of animation feature films in India.
The AFF is a focused initiative from Indiantelevision Dot Com‘s AnimationXpress that will begin with its first edition on 23 August, but will continue 24/7 online through interactive online forums and blogs as well as on ground events frequently.
According to Animation Xpress co-founder, CEO, and managing editor, Anand Gurnani, “Unlike the Indian cinema industry that can make 10 films in one year and market them well too, the animation industry’s expertise lies only in production. The people here take at least two to three years to release a single film and do not know how to promote and market it. Thus, this conference aims to provide a platform to both these industries wherein they can share not only their domain expertise with each other but also help the Indian animation industry grow further.”
Speaking about AFF, Gurnani said, “Getting film folk and trade to attend the conference has been an experience and our fingers are crossed. Frankly speaking, this is a modest beginning. An assured positive outcome is that there will be a movement towards bringing animation into the mainstream and all the discussions as well as the networking is really going to be useful for our animation industry colleagues.”
House Full
Animation Xpress is releasing a very interesting report which has data and images of more than 50 Indian animated features that are in the works. This report called House Full which will be periodically published will serve as a ready reckoner not only for the animation folks but also the film industry and financers as well.
The Creative Talent Network
A unique Creative Talent Network which is open to all pre-production artists and scriptwriters (free but pre-registration is required) – will be held from 10 am to 1 pm at the Hyatt Regency where the pre pro artists and scripwriters can meet and network to pursue collaboration amongst themselves and with producers who have booked table space.
This will be followed by the conference which begins at 2.30 pm and goes on till late in the evening.
The following is the programme of the event:
10 am to 1.00 pm
Creative & Pre Production Talent Network
1.30 pm
Conference Registration Begins
2.30 pm: Keynote
Mahesh Samat, Managing Director, Walt Disney (India)
3.00 pm: Director‘s Cut
Govind Nihalani
Kunal Kohli
Rohit Vaid
Arnab Chaudhari
Gitanjali Rao
3.50 pm: I to ROI
Siddharth Jain, Irock Entertainment
Jiggy George, Head of Theatrical & L&M, Turner
Abhimanyu Singh, MD, Contiloe Pictures
Ashish Kulkarni, BIG Animation
Krishika Lulla, Eros*
4.40 pm: Tea Break
4.55 pm: Development to Post
Aditya Krishna, VP-Development, UTV Motion Pictures
Aman Kwatra, Production Head, 2nz
Nalin Singh, MD, Indiatales
CB Arun Kumar, Head of VFX & Animation Operations, Pixion
Pankaj Khandpur, Creative Director, Tata Elxsi, VCL
5.45 pm – The 2D pipeline
Deepak Jadhav, Founder, DREAMS
5.55 pm: Marketing & Innovation
Navin Shah, CEO, P9 Integrated
Pranay Atwal, Starcomm
Saurabh Varma, CMO, Reliance Entertainment
Smita Maroo, Shemaroo
To be announced
6.55 pm: Distribution & Release
*Kercy Daruwala, Managing Director, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sandeep Bhargava, Studio 18
Utpal Acharya, Inox
Devang Sampat, Cinemax
To be announced
8.00 pm: Cocktails & Dinner
The partners and supporters for AFF include:
Gold Partners: DREAMS and Screen, Silver Partners: Indiatales, Autodesk, Contiloe Pictures, BIG Animation, Cornershop. Multiplex Partner: Cinemax, Media Support; Trade Guide, UTVi, Cinema Today, Indiantelevision.com, expressindia.com. The event is also supported by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association.
Hindi
Edstead unveils ambitious H1 2026 content slate
New originals feature Adarsh Gourav in Northeast docu-series, Aditi Kotak in Next Class, and Adil Hussain in Stories of India.
MUMBAI: Edstead just dropped a content menu so rich it could make even the pickiest viewer say “encore” because when storytelling meets substance, the binge becomes inevitable. The fast-rising Mumbai-based studio, founded by Shekhar Bhattacharjee, today revealed its H1 2026 slate, a bold expansion of premium non-fiction that blends cultural depth, innovation, and legacy into cinematic factual narratives. The lineup cements Edstead’s niche at the crossroads of authenticity and global appeal, delivering research-driven stories that stay rooted in the Indian experience while aiming for wider resonance.
Headlining the fresh originals:
- An untitled docu-series starring Bollywood actor Adarsh Gourav, who journeys through Northeast India to spotlight living cultural traditions, indigenous voices, music, oral histories, and everyday resilience. Presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment as integration partner.
- Next Class, an eight-episode impact series fronted by entrepreneur and former Miss India Aditi Kotak, decoding career pathways, emerging fields, and real-world outcomes through leading institutions and forward-thinking disciplines.
- Stories of India with Adil Hussain, India’s first weekly OTT series dedicated to social impact, profiling organisations driving meaningful change and connecting purpose with tangible results.
- Toast to Tomorrow, exploring how leading alcohol brands craft immersive, culture-led experiences that celebrate regional identities and redefine legacy.
- No Cap Abroad – UAE Edition, following Indian students through their first week at UAE colleges—navigating homesickness, culture shock, and independence in a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.
Edstead is also returning with expanded seasons of breakout hits, The Future School (progressive Indian education), Molecules of Hope (healthcare innovation), and Great Indian Residential Schools.
Edstead founder Shekhar Bhattacharjee said, “At Edstead, we are focused on building narratives that carry depth, context, and long-term relevance. Every project begins with research and a clear purpose… Our ambition is to create globally competitive factual content from India that remains culturally grounded while shaping conversations, inspiring trust, and contributing to the growing culture economy.”
From education and healthcare to enterprise and cultural revival, the slate reflects Edstead’s full-stack approach developing original IPs and guiding them through a robust distribution network spanning digital, OTT, and broadcast. In a content world chasing quick trends, Edstead is quietly betting on stories built to last, ones that don’t just entertain, but linger long after the credits roll.
