The WAVES Film Bazaar, South Asia’s global film market, opened today at the Marriott Resort in Panjim, Goa with an inspiring inaugural ceremony attended by a distinguished gathering of leaders, policymakers, filmmakers, and global delegates. Held annually alongside the prestigious International Film Festival of India, the 19th edition of the Bazaar, which is now rebranded as the Waves Film Bazaar, serves as a global meeting point for filmmakers, producers, sales agents, festival programmers, and distributors seeking creative and financial partnerships. The market is scheduled from November 20th to 24th.
In his opening remarks, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, described WAVES Film Bazaar as the natural and fitting beginning to IFFI’s celebrations. He called it a “complete ecosystem of screenings, masterclasses, and technology showcases,” and emphasised how the new identity of WAVES aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of “converting art into commerce.”
He highlighted the world’s first e-marketplace for filmmakers and stressed that WAVES is “connecting creators and countries, making India a meeting point for global collaboration.” He noted the wide array of curated projects, cash grants and structured feedback processes, while also spotlighting India’s first-ever AI Film Festival and Hackathon as essential steps toward embracing the future of cinematic technology.
Guest of Honour Jaewon Kim, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, applauded the organisers for their commitment and consistency since the first edition of the festival. Expressing hopes for active collaboration between India and Korea, she also delivered a soulful rendition of Vande Mataram, drawing warm applause and standing ovation from the audience.
Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, while inaugurating the Bazaar, spoke about the Prime Minister’s vision for India to emerge as a global hub of film production. Calling it a “bridge between creators and producers,” he praised the platform for empowering young voices and new storytellers, noting the participation of 124 new creators in the bazaar this year and reaffirming its role in taking Indian culture and content to the world.
Additional Secretary Prabhat delivered the vote of thanks at the ceremony. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by IFFI Festival Director and celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur; actor Nandamuri Balakrishna and actor Anupam Kher; Jerome Paillard, Advisor to Waves Bazaar; Garth Davis, Australian Film Director; and Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, NFDC, together symbolising the dynamic confluence of creativity and industry leadership at this year’s event.
Salient features of Waves Film Bazaar:
300+ film projects across Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room, and Co-Production Markets
22 Feature Films and 5 Documentaries in the Co-Production Market
Cash grants totalling USD 20,000
WAVES Film Bazaar Recommends (WFBR): 22 selected films in multiple formats
Delegations from 7+ countries and film incentives showcases from 10+ Indian states
A dedicated Tech Pavilion showcasing cutting-edge VFX, CGI, animation and digital production technologies.
