Cannes/Paris 09.10.2026: – MIPCOM (12–15 October 2026), the world's largest and most influential market and gateway to the international media and entertainment content business, and The Ankler today a new partnership to celebrate the people and ideas driving the future of the global entertainment ecosystem.

As part of the collaboration, MIPCOM CANNES and The Ankler will introduce the inaugural Future of Entertainment Award, honoring an individual whose vision, innovation and impact are helping define the next generation of entertainment across content, technology, business and audience engagement. The inaugural award will be presented on Sunday October 11th at 5:30pm in the Grand Auditorium to Dhar Mann, entrepreneur, filmmaker and founder of Dhar Mann Studios, whose pioneering approach to creator-led storytelling has built a global entertainment business reaching millions of viewers across digital platforms. The award will be presented to Dhar Mann by Janice Min, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Ankler Media.

In addition to presenting the Future of Entertainment award at MIPCOM CANNES, The Ankler will publish the Future of Entertainment 25, an independently curated list recognizing 25 leaders who are shaping the future of the industry through visionary creativity and innovation. The annual list will spotlight groundbreakers across the global entertainment ecosystem and serve as a platform for celebrating the individuals driving meaningful change across the business.

Janice Min, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Ankler

“The Ankler has always been obsessed with where the business is going next — and the place the industry turns to for insight on those shifts. Our partnership with MIPCOM CANNES lets us take that work a step further. The Future of Entertainment is our way of recognizing the people, starting with Dhar Mann, who are building enormous global entertainment businesses largely outside Hollywood’s traditional system.”

Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES

“At a time of unprecedented transformation across the entertainment landscape, it is more important than ever to recognize the individuals who are driving innovation and creating new pathways for growth. This collaboration with The Ankler reinforces MIPCOM’s commitment to celebrating industry leadership and bringing together the visionaries who will shape the future of entertainment.”