The Waves Film Bazaar, South Asia’s premier film market, has announced the opening of submissions for its Co-Production Market at its 19th edition, set to take place from November 20 to 24, at the Marriott Resort in Goa. Held alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the event aims to position India as a global hub for content creation, creativity, and cinematic co-productions.
Rebranded as Waves Film Bazaar, the platform has grown into a vital link between Indian and South Asian filmmakers and international industry professionals. Last year, it drew over 1,800 participants from more than 40 countries, underscoring its rising prominence in the global film industry. The Co-Production Market, a cornerstone of the event since its inception in 2007, invites submissions for feature films and documentaries, offering filmmakers curated opportunities to secure artistic and financial support for their projects.
Notable films such as The Lunchbox, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Newton, Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Girls Will Be Girls, and In the Belly of a Tiger have benefited from the platform, cementing its reputation as a launchpad for critically acclaimed cinema. For the 2025 edition, Waves Film Bazaar will award $20,000 in cash grants to three winning projects in the Co-Production Market. The first prize of $10,000 will go to a feature film project, the second prize of $5,000 to another feature film, and a special $5,000 grant to a documentary project. Introduced in 2024, these grants aim to bridge the gap between creative vision and production by providing essential development funding.
Last year’s winners included Kurinji (The Disappearing Flower), directed by Payal Sethi, which clinched the first prize, while Kothiyan – Fishers of Men, directed by Sanju Surendran, and All Ten Heads of Ravana, directed by Pranjal Dua, secured the second and third prizes, respectively.
Filmmakers can submit feature film projects until September 7, and documentary projects until September 13. Selected participants will have the chance to connect with producers, distributors, sales agents, and financiers to forge partnerships and co-production deals.
In addition to the Co-Production Market, Waves Film Bazaar will feature a range of activities, including Market Screenings, a Viewing Room showcasing around 200 new Indian and South Asian films, a Work-In-Progress Lab, Knowledge Series, Producer’s Workshop, Country Pavilions, and Market Stalls.