Women in Film (WIF) India, supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), on Thursday announced the country’s first-ever six women-led delegation to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which began on September 4 and will conclude on September 9.
From 23 shortlisted projects, six filmmakers were selected as winners: Arshaly Jose (A Dandelion’s Dream), Deepa Bhatia (Rabbit Hole), Katyayani Kumar (Sons of the River), Madhumita Sundararaman (The Guest House), Paromita Dhar (Ulta), and Pramati Anand (A Late Autumn Dream).
The initiative, facilitated by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and supported by WAVES Bazaar—the Ministry’s flagship global markets platform—aims to spotlight Indian women filmmakers on one of the world’s most influential cinematic stages.
The six projects, all led by women in key creative roles, were selected through a nationwide contest that received more than 200 applications in just one week. Entries came from across India, including Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, and Chandigarh.
The Ministry-backed programme provides international visibility, mentorship, curated networking, and pitching/dealmaking training. It is designed to bridge the gap in representation while creating long-term pathways for Indian women filmmakers to access global collaborations, funding, and distribution.
WIF India will coordinate the programme with U.S.-based Product of Culture, which previously partnered with the organisation for its Cannes showcase. Continued mentorship will be provided by WIF India, WIF LA, Academy Award-winner Guneet Monga Kapoor, and the Jury, ensuring sustained global visibility for India’s women storytellers.
The initiative was announced in May, with Academy Award winner Guneet Monga leading the programme as part of the global WIFTI (Women in Film & Television International) network, aimed at advancing gender equity in Indian screen industries. WIF, founded in 1973 in Los Angeles, has been advocating for gender equity in the film industry for over 50 years.