WAVES Bazaar serves as a specialized platform for businesses to present their products and services, seek collaborative opportunities, and form new partnerships.
Swati Bhat
Under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's flagship international markets platform, WAVES Bazaar, six Indian filmmakers leading women-centric projects represented the country at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, held last month. This initiative, led by Women in Film (WIF) India and supported by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), marked a significant milestone in showcasing the creativity and vision of Indian women filmmakers on a global stage. The filmmakers—Arshaly Jose, Deepa Bhatia, Katyayani Kumar, Madhumita Sundararaman, Paromita Dhar, and Pramati Anand—were selected from over 200 entries following a week-long nationwide call.
Ministry officials described this development as a defining moment for India’s film industry and creative community. "For the first time, six Indian filmmakers leading women-centric projects represented the country at one of the world’s most influential film forums. The delegation highlighted regional, rooted, and real stories from Kerala and Manipur to Maharashtra and Delhi, demonstrating that India’s creative diversity knows no boundaries," stated ministry officials. The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is an event focused on establishing India as a key hub for the media and entertainment industry. The inaugural event took place in Mumbai in May. WAVES Bazaar is a dedicated platform for companies to showcase their products and services, explore collaborations, and establish new partnerships.
Supported by WAVES Bazaar’s expansive ecosystem, these filmmakers gained access to mentorship, international markets, and industry exposure once reserved for seasoned global creators. Over the past year, WAVES Bazaar has evolved into a crucial bridge between Indian content creators and international studios, facilitating co-productions, global distribution deals, and strategic collaborations across continents, officials noted. WIF India Founder and Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor described the collaboration as "a dream realized." "Exposure is at the heart of all growth. Through WIF India and WAVES Bazaar, we are building pathways for women to take their stories to the world," she stated. "We are taking our initial steps, building this institution piece by piece, and now moving it forward." For the participants, the TIFF experience was transformative.
Kerala-based filmmaker Arshaly Jose shared, "Pitching to international producers and distributors showed me that my stories could transcend borders. For the first time, I felt I truly belonged." Similarly, Deepa Bhatia reflected, "It was the thoughtful details from mentorship to wellbeing that made this experience special. WIF and WAVES are clearly shaking up the industry." With cumulative deals exceeding Rs 800 crores across film, animation, and music, and structured programs like Co-Production Labs and Screenwriters’ Forums, WAVES Bazaar is redefining how India engages with the world creatively.
