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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Waves Film Bazaar Announces $20,000 Cash
Grants for Co-Production Market at 19th Edition in
Goa
Posted On: 30 AUG 2025 1:46PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, August 30, 2025 – Waves Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest film market and an integral
part of India’s international film outreach, has officially opened calls for its Co-Production Market at
the 19th edition. The event is scheduled to take place from November 20–24, 2025, at the Marriott
Resort, Goa.
Running alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Film Bazaar was rebranded as
Waves Film Bazaar as part of a broader strategic vision to position India as a global hub for content,
creativity, and co-productions. Waves Film Bazaar has established itself as a premier platform
connecting Indian and South Asian filmmaking talent with international professionals. Last year, it
attracted over 1,800 participants from more than 40 countries, highlighting its significance and
expanding influence in the film industry.
The Co-Production Market, a flagship feature of Waves Film Bazaar, invites submissions for
Feature and Documentary projects. Since its inception in 2007, this platform has provided curated
opportunities for filmmakers to secure both artistic and financial support. The market strives to unite
film professionals worldwide, fostering international partnerships and collaborative co-productions.
Several acclaimed films, including The Lunchbox, Dum Lagake Haisha, Newton, Schirkoa: In Lies
We Trust, Girls Will Be Girls, and In the Belly of a Tiger, owe part of their success to Waves Film
Bazaar, reflecting its impact on the global cinema landscape.
Cash Grants for 2025 Co-Production Market:
For the 2025 edition, Waves Film Bazaar will award a total of $20,000 in cash grants to three
winning projects from the Co-Production Market, distributed as follows:
1st Prize: Co-Production Market Feature – $10,000
2nd Prize: Co-Production Market Feature – $5,000
Special Cash Grant: Co-Production Market Documentary – $5,000
Launched in 2024, the cash grant initiative aims to bridge the gap between creative vision and
production by offering crucial development funding. In the previous edition, Kurinji (The
Disappearing Flower), directed by Payal Sethi, won the First Prize. The Second Prize was awarded
to Kothiyan - Fishers of Men, directed by Sanju Surendran and produced by Pramod Sankar, while
All Ten Heads of Ravana, directed by Pranjal Dua and produced by Bich-Quan Tran, secured the
Third Prize.
Submission Deadlines:
The submission deadline for Feature film projects is September 7, 2025, while Documentary project
submissions close on September 13, 2025. Selected filmmakers will gain valuable opportunities to
engage with producers, distributors, sales agents, and financiers to bolster collaboration and co-
production deals.Additional Waves Film Bazaar Activities:
Beyond the Co-Production Market, Waves Film Bazaar offers Market Screenings, the Viewing
Room — a video library showcasing about 200 new and unseen Indian and South Asian films —
along with several industry-focused events such as the Work-In-Progress Lab, Knowledge Series,
Producer’s Workshop, Country Pavilions, and Market Stalls. These activities reinforce Waves Film
Bazaar’s commitment to nurturing talent, fostering industry dialogue, and elevating South Asian
cinema on the global stage.
For more information and submissions, visit films.wavesbazaar.com
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Sayyid Rabeehashmi / Yash Rané / Parshuram Kor
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(Release ID: 2162192)