Transcend Goa 2026, India’s first-ever dedicated Transmedia Conclave, was inaugurated on January 15 at Maquinez Palace, Panjim, marking a significant step in Goa’s journey towards becoming a hub for creative innovation and media excellence. The opening ceremony and Day 1 proceedings witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, policymakers, and industry leaders, underscoring the importance of the conclave in shaping future-ready entertainment ecosystems.
The event was inaugurated in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, along with Dr V. Candavelou, Chief Secretary, Government of Goa; Smt Delilah Lobo, MLA – Siolim Constituency and Vice-Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa; Shri Asvin Chandru, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa; Shri C. Sajan Raj Kurup, Chairman, Creativeland Group; and Shri Harish Rao, Founder, Bulletproof Entertainment and Co-founder, Goa Future Proof, among other dignitaries and registered participants.
Day 1 of Transcend Goa 2026 set the tone for meaningful dialogue and collaboration through keynote addresses and engaging panel discussions focused on emerging trends in transmedia storytelling, film, digital content creation, and evolving entertainment business models. The conclave provided a dynamic platform for creators, filmmakers, industry professionals, and policymakers to exchange ideas, explore synergies, and discuss opportunities for innovation and investment.
Organised by the Entertainment Society of Goa in partnership with Goa Future Proof and supported by the Government of Goa, Transcend Goa 2026 reflects the state’s vision to strengthen its global footprint in the media and entertainment sector. By fostering collaboration across creative disciplines and highlighting Goa’s cultural vibrancy and infrastructure, the conclave aims to position Goa as a future-forward destination for storytelling, creativity, and media-driven growth.
The BRIJ Incubator was officially unveiled at the 10th edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025, marking its first public appearance as a platform dedicated to nurturing early-stage cultural, craft-based, and creative ventures in India. The launch took place at The Stage, Art Park in Panjim, in the presence of Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal and Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, setting the tone for a week of conversations and programming around making, entrepreneurship, and cultural innovation at the festival.
Conceived as an initiative that bridges traditional knowledge systems with contemporary entrepreneurial thinking, The BRIJ Incubator is designed to support founders, artisans, and cultural practitioners who are building sustainable, future-oriented enterprises rooted in heritage, material innovation, and community-led practices. Its debut at Serendipity offered audiences and industry stakeholders an early introduction to the Incubator’s mission and its first cohort of incubatees—Ekatra, Golden Feathers, and Karghewale.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder Patron of Serendipity Arts and The BRIJ, shared that the Incubator emerged from the realisation that while India has an extraordinary depth of cultural knowledge and craft practice, there are limited structured pathways for these ideas to grow into sustainable enterprises. He noted that the Incubator aims to thoughtfully bridge tradition and entrepreneurship, building long-term value for artisans, founders, and India’s cultural economy. Launching the initiative at the Serendipity Arts Festival, he said, felt appropriate as festivals are spaces where ideas are tested, conversations emerge, and new ecosystems begin.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Vivek Aggarwal highlighted the evolving role of Serendipity Arts Festival in strengthening India’s cultural infrastructure. He acknowledged how platforms such as Serendipity are increasingly engaging with initiatives like The BRIJ Incubator to connect the arts with India’s startup and innovation ecosystem, thereby creating structured pathways for cultural entrepreneurship and long-term growth in the sector.
Mr. Mohit Dhawan, spokesperson for The BRIJ Incubator and President, Investment Office, Hero Enterprise, shared that the Incubator has grown out of years of listening to founders, artisans, and innovators who are doing meaningful work but often lack the structured support needed to mature their ideas into enterprises. He added that the goal is to create responsible pathways for cultural ventures to evolve while remaining true to the communities and practices they represent, and that Serendipity’s milestone year provided the right environment to begin this journey.
The launch also introduced The BRIJ Incubator’s broader programme at Serendipity Arts Festival 2025, which includes a flagship panel on Business Model Innovation and Funding Landscape in Arts & Crafts, featuring representatives from the Government of Goa, Catalyst AIC, Caspian Equity, HCL Foundation, and IFMR. The programme further includes Spark Idea: Pitch Opportunity, India’s first pitch platform dedicated to craft and culture-led startups, along with hands-on Maker’s Asylum workshops running throughout the festival.
Additional engagements include Craft Hub sessions led by incubatees Ekatra and Karghewale, offering immersive experiences in sustainable gifting, textile upcycling, and handloom weaving, as well as silent panels and making-led conversations exploring themes such as Jugaad versus Maker Culture and the evolving relationship between humans, materials, and craft.
The BRIJ Incubator’s presence at Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 marks the beginning of a long-term vision to build a dedicated ecosystem for cultural entrepreneurship in India. Future initiatives will be anchored at The BRIJ, a new cultural district currently under development in Delhi, envisioned as a space for interdisciplinary learning, making, research, and incubation—strengthening the foundations of India’s creative economy for years to come.
Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk
Goa deepened its global engagement as a high-level delegation from Norway visited the State for a roundtable hosted by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism. The interaction focused on exploring partnerships in technology, tourism, creative industries, skilling, cybersecurity and sustainability. The discussions were held in the presence of Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications and Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, alongside senior officials including Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C; Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C; Dr. Gavin Dias, General Manager (Marketing) of GTDC; Shri D. S. Prashant, CEO of Startup and IT Promotion Cell; and representatives from Kilowott. The Norwegian delegation featured key leaders such as Trond Skundberg, General Manager of NICCI; Christian H. Engh, CEO of the Norwegian Cybersecurity Cluster; Monica Skjellen-Larsen, Advisor at Gjøvikregionen Utvikling; Bjørn Aspøy, CEO of Smart Farm AS; Sheraline Rocha, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Nordic Intent; Aditya Prabhugaonkar of Kilowott; Yeshtesh Shirodkar of Consstruct; and Prabha, Director at NICCI.
Hon’ble Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte emphasized that Goa is increasingly shaping a development model that brings together technology, creativity and sustainable tourism. He highlighted ongoing initiatives ranging from electronic manufacturing and AI skilling to a robust startup policy that positions Goa as an attractive destination for global collaboration. He further noted that the State’s tourism strategy is increasingly focused on technology-enabled experiences, immersive storytelling and climate-conscious practices. He reiterated that Goans must remain central beneficiaries of any international partnership, with opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and skill development.
Christian H. Engh, CEO of the Norwegian Cybersecurity Cluster, explained why Norway considers Goa a strategic partner. He underscored that Norway, one of the world’s most digitised nations with strengths in renewable energy, electric mobility and advanced technology, is now looking toward India to address talent needs and co-develop scalable innovations. Engh stressed that Goa’s commitment to sustainability, clean mobility and future-ready tourism strongly aligns with Norway’s priorities. He further noted that aquaculture technology—an established strength of Norway—offers promising potential for joint initiatives with Goa.
The roundtable also included a presentation by Shri D. S. Prashant, CEO of the Startup & IT Promotion Cell, who discussed Goa’s evolving startup ecosystem, strong policy environment and emergence of a creative-tech landscape that combines design, technology and innovation. This was followed by a detailed briefing by Dr. Gavin Dias from GTDC, showcasing Goa’s tourism strategy and its increasing emphasis on sustainability, wellness, Ayurveda, medical tourism, heritage conservation and biodiversity-driven travel. Investment opportunities in hospitality, experiential tourism, charter operations and research-based collaborations were also highlighted.
During the interaction, the Norwegian delegation outlined several actionable areas for future collaboration. These included university partnerships, academic and incubator exchanges, talent mobility programmes between Goa and Norway, research-led collaborations and the introduction of international diver certification programmes. The delegation also discussed strengthening the NICCI network in India and leveraging Norway’s global expertise in aquaculture, marine technology and clean energy to align with Goa’s emerging opportunities in these sectors.
As Goa accelerates its work in technology, creative industries, skilling and sustainable tourism, the engagement with the Norwegian delegation underscores the State’s readiness for global partnerships. The discussions highlighted the mutual interest of both regions in shaping future-oriented initiatives anchored in innovation, sustainability and shared growth.
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) came to a vibrant close at the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, bringing together global filmmakers, artists, and cinephiles for a grand celebration of cinematic artistry. Over nine days, audiences were immersed in powerful stories, thought-provoking narratives, and diverse cultural showcases that lit up screens across the state, making this edition of the festival a memorable tribute to the magic of cinema.
One of the most anticipated moments of the evening was the announcement of the Golden Peacock winner, awarded this year to the Vietnamese film Skin of Youth, written and directed by Ashleigh Mayfair. The jury praised the film for its bold and stylish storytelling, compelling message, and the seamless harmony of its narration, music, and editing. The film was celebrated for its capacity to humanize and illuminate voices seldom heard, promising to linger long in the minds of its viewers.
Among the major honours, Marathi filmmaker Santosh Davakhar received the Silver Peacock for Best Director for Gondhal, a film the jury described as a Shakespearean fable grounded in cultural richness and emotional depth. Ubeimar Rios won the Silver Peacock for Best Male Actor for his powerful performance in the Spanish film A Poet, while Jara Sofija Ostan earned the Silver Peacock for Best Female Actor for her nuanced and expressive portrayal in the Slovenian film Little Trouble Girls. The festival also recognized the exceptional talent of emerging filmmakers, with Iranian filmmaker Hesam Farahmand and Estonian filmmaker Tõnis Pill jointly receiving the Best Debut Director Award for their films My Daughter’s Hair (Raha) and Fränk respectively.
The closing ceremony also shone a spotlight on Indian cinema legend Rajinikanth, who was honoured for completing 50 years in the industry. The celebrated actor expressed heartfelt gratitude, calling the recognition an honour for the entire film fraternity. As dignitaries including Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Union MoS Dr. L. Murugan addressed the gathering, they highlighted IFFI’s contributions to India’s cultural legacy and creative economy. The festival’s achievements this year included the successful WAVES Film Bazaar, which generated over ₹1,050 crore in business, the screening of 50 films directed by women, and an array of initiatives supporting young creators and technological innovation.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Sanjay Jaju, emphasized India’s growing role in the “orange economy,” noting that IFFI 2025 had taken major strides in creating opportunities for creators nationwide. The establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology in Mumbai marked another significant step toward nurturing future talent and integrating technology into creative production.
The festival fondly remembered icons of Indian cinema who passed away this year, honouring their irreplaceable contributions. Esteemed personalities including Ramesh Sippy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kiran Shantaram, and many others graced the ceremony, reaffirming the festival’s stature as a melting pot of creativity and collaboration. The closing night featured captivating dance performances, cultural displays from the Northeast and Karnataka, artistic showcases by divyang performers, and the inclusion of Indian Sign Language interpreters, reflecting IFFI’s commitment to inclusivity.
New initiatives such as the AI Film Festival and the CinemAI Hackathon captured the spirit of the future, providing platforms for creators to explore AI-driven storytelling and production tools. Workshops, masterclasses, and conversations with cinematic luminaries enriched the knowledge landscape of the festival, offering deeper insights into filmmaking and the evolving global entertainment industry.
As the curtains fell on IFFI 2025, the festival left a lasting impression on audiences and participants worldwide. Its celebration of creativity, innovation, and cinematic diversity strengthened its position as a global cultural beacon. With anticipation already building for the next edition, IFFI continues to serve as a powerful platform for storytelling excellence, artistic recognition, and the flourishing of the creative economy.
