The WAVES Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest film market, opened today at the Marriott Resort in Panjim with an energetic inaugural ceremony attended by filmmakers, global delegates and senior officials. Organised alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the 19th edition of the market—recently rebranded as WAVES Film Bazaar—will run from November 20 to 24.
Speaking at the inauguration, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju said WAVES Film Bazaar represents a “complete ecosystem of screenings, masterclasses and technology showcases,” aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of “turning art into commerce.” He highlighted India’s first e-marketplace for filmmakers and the introduction of the AI Film Festival and Hackathon as major steps in embracing future technologies.
Guest of Honour Jaewon Kim, Member of the National Assembly of South Korea, lauded the organisers for their consistency and expressed hope for stronger India–Korea collaborations. Her rendition of Vande Mataram drew a standing ovation.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan inaugurated the event, calling it a “bridge between creators and producers” and commending the participation of 124 new creators this year. He said the platform continues to take Indian stories and talent to global audiences.
The ceremony was attended by IFFI Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, actors Nandamuri Balakrishna and Anupam Kher, director Garth Davis, NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum and other notable film personalities.
The Bazaar features over 300 curated film projects across the Co-Production Market, Market Screenings, Viewing Room library and Screenwriters’ Lab. Delegations from more than seven countries and participation from over ten Indian states add to the event’s international scale.
The Tech Pavilion showcases cutting-edge innovations in VFX, CGI, animation and virtual production. This year also marks the launch of the CinemAI Hackathon in partnership with LTIMindtree, encouraging experimentation with AI-driven storytelling, certification solutions and anti-piracy tools.
Now in its 56th edition, IFFI continues to be South Asia’s premier film festival, bringing together restored classics, global premieres, masterclasses and cultural programmes in Goa from November 20 to 28.