Tag: AI Film Festival

Events in Goa, IFFI 2025

Waves Film Bazaar 2025 Concludes with Momentum at the 56th IFFI; Expanded Edition Announced for 2026

allycaralgoa

The Waves Film Bazaar 2025 concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), marking the end of five impactful days of networking, innovation, and global cinematic exchange. The event gathered global filmmakers, producers, distributors, funders, and emerging creators, reaffirming its status as one of Asia’s most influential film industry platforms.

The ceremony saw the presence of esteemed dignitaries including Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting — Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan MN and Dr. K. K. Nirala, NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum, Waves Film Bazaar Advisor Jerome Paillard, IFFI Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani and Sriram Raghavan, and internationally acclaimed actor Rachel Griffiths.

The event began with a solemn one-minute silence in honour of legendary actor Dharmendra, paying tribute to his monumental legacy in Indian cinema.

Momentum for 2026: An Expanded 20th Edition

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan announced that the 20th edition of Waves Film Bazaar will return in an expanded and more ambitious format, reflecting the soaring global interest in Indian co-productions, script labs, and AI-driven filmmaking initiatives.

NFDC MD Prakash Magdum reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to nurturing independent minds, emphasizing the success of previously selected projects and the rising global footprint of Indian stories.

A wrap-up video capturing the festival’s highlights set the celebratory tone for the awards that followed.

Major Awards & Recognitions

Co-Production Market & Development Grants

  • Kakthet (Idiot) – First Co-Production Grant ($10,000)
  • Ulta (Madam) – Second Co-Production Grant ($5,000)
  • Simhastha Kumbh – Special Documentary Grant ($5,000)
  • The Manager, Azhi, Ustad Bantoo – Red Sea Fund Awards
  • Nazma Ka Tadka – Platoon One Script Development Grant
  • Teacher’s Pet, White Guy – Casting Company Awards
  • 7 to 7 – UCCN City of Film Best Project Award

Post-Production Lab Winners

Projects such as Khoriya, Azhi, The Ink Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb, Born Yesterday, Aakkaatti, and Khamosh Nazar Aate Hain received major post-production support from Nube Studios, Prasad Corporation, Moviebuff, and others.

Premiere GAP Funding & Distribution

  • Echoes of the Herd – Matchbox GAP Award
  • Soul Whispers – M5 Global Film Fund
  • Chingam – Reborn India Theatrical Distribution Award

AI Film Festival & CinemAI Hackathon: A Global First

Supported by LTIMindtree, the AI showcase attracted entries from more than 18 countries.

Award Highlights:

  • KYRA – Best AI Animation
  • The Cinema That Never Was – Most Innovative AI Film
  • Nagori – Best AI Short
  • Special Mentions: The Last Backup Final Part, Miracle on the Kachua Beach

The CinemAI Hackathon honoured excellence in:

  • Sound
  • Visuals
  • Storytelling
  • Innovation
  • Best AI Film — The Red Crayon

Spotlight on Emerging Talent

The Student Producer’s Workshop awarded upcoming creators including Kaashviy Ommkaar, Aniket Joshi, Radhika Kinare, Riya Varghese, and Sakshi Mishra, highlighting the promising next generation of Indian filmmakers.

The event concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Vineeta Mishra, Head of Waves Film Bazaar, followed by a celebratory stage appearance by the entire team. With powerful partnerships, visionary storytelling, and global engagement, Waves Film Bazaar 2025 sets the stage for an even bigger, bolder edition in 2026.

Events in Goa

WAVES Film Bazaar Launches in Goa, Celebrates Global Filmmaking Collaboration

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The WAVES Film Bazaar, South Asia’s premier global film market, officially opened today at the Marriott Resort in Panjim, Goa, with a vibrant inaugural ceremony attended by distinguished leaders, policymakers, filmmakers, and international delegates. Held annually alongside the International Film Festival of India, the 19th edition of the Bazaar, now rebranded as WAVES Film Bazaar, serves as a global hub for filmmakers, producers, sales agents, festival programmers, and distributors seeking creative and financial partnerships. Scheduled from November 20th to 24th, the market features 300 film projects and welcomes delegations from over seven countries.

Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, inaugurated the event, describing the Bazaar as a “complete ecosystem of screenings, masterclasses, and technology showcases.” Highlighting the market’s alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision of “converting art into commerce,” he emphasized the world’s first e-marketplace for filmmakers, which facilitates collaboration between creators and countries. Shri Jaju also noted the curated projects, cash grants, and structured feedback mechanisms, alongside India’s first-ever AI Film Festival and Hackathon as key milestones in embracing the future of cinematic technology.

Guest of Honour Ms. Jaewon Kim, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, lauded the organisers’ dedication since the festival’s inception and expressed hope for strong India-Korea collaborations. She added a memorable moment by performing a soulful rendition of Vande Mataram, earning a standing ovation from the audience. Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, praised the Bazaar for empowering young storytellers and new voices, highlighting the participation of 124 new creators this year. He described the event as a bridge connecting creators and producers while projecting Indian culture and content on the global stage. Additional Secretary Shri Prabhat delivered the vote of thanks, rounding off a ceremony that celebrated creativity and industry leadership.

The inaugural event was further enriched by the presence of IFFI Festival Director and acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, actors Shri Nandamuri Balakrishna and Shri Anupam Kher, Jerome Paillard, Advisor to Waves Bazaar, Australian film director Garth Davis, and Shri Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC. Together, they underscored the Bazaar’s role as a dynamic confluence of artistic vision, innovation, and global collaboration, setting the tone for an inspiring and transformative week of cinematic exchange.

Events in Goa

LTIMindtree Partners with IFFI and NFDC to Launch India’s First AI Film Festival and Hackathon in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

LTIMindtree, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to launch India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Film Festival and Hackathon. Scheduled to take place from November 20 to 28, 2025, during the 56th edition of IFFI in Goa, the initiative aims to redefine the intersection of art, storytelling, and technology.

Since its inception in 1952, IFFI has stood as India’s premier cinematic platform, bringing together filmmakers and creative professionals from across the globe. With this collaboration, LTIMindtree, NFDC, and IFFI are set to introduce a new era of digital creativity through the integration of AI-powered tools in the cinematic process. The partnership, supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, represents a significant step towards fostering innovation in India’s creative economy.

Under this initiative, LTIMindtree’s BlueVerse CraftStudio and NFDC will create a dedicated ecosystem for AI-driven filmmaking, encouraging creators and technologists to collaborate on innovative projects that push the boundaries of storytelling. The AI Film Festival will feature screenings of AI-generated works across fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental categories, offering audiences a glimpse into how technology is reshaping artistic expression.

Complementing the festival is a 48-hour hackathon designed to challenge participants to build AI-powered storytelling and production tools. Alongside the competition, workshops and masterclasses led by global experts will cover topics such as ethical storytelling, AI in film production, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping creative narratives.

Shekhar Kapur, Festival Director of IFFI and Jury Chair of the IFFI AI Film Festival, highlighted the transformative potential of this collaboration, saying, “Cinema has always reflected the power of human imagination. Today, AI gives us a new lens that expands our ability to dream, design, and express. The IFFI AI Film Festival will be a playground for that evolution.”

Dr. Sujay Sen, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Interactive Services at LTIMindtree, echoed the sentiment, noting, “At LTIMindtree, we believe the future of storytelling lies at the confluence of human creativity and AI. Through this collaboration, we are proud to create a platform that nurtures innovation and brings the magic of AI to India’s creative economy.”

Adding to this, Shri Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC, said, “As India’s leading platform for cinematic excellence, IFFI has always celebrated emerging voices and technologies. Partnering with LTIMindtree and Shekhar Kapur allows us to extend this creative legacy into the world of AI responsibly, inclusively, and with a vision for global collaboration.”

The festival will also feature participation from international AI film festivals, with opportunities for global cross-credit recognition for creators and innovators. By bringing together cinema and cutting-edge technology, the AI Film Festival and Hackathon aim to position India as a global leader in AI-driven cinematic innovation.