The second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar concluded successfully at the 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026, strengthening its position as a leading platform for documentary filmmakers seeking mentorship, funding, co-production opportunities and global distribution partnerships.
Held over three days, the documentary market brought together filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors, commissioning editors, mentors and industry professionals from around the world. Through project pitching sessions, networking events and business interactions, the platform enabled emerging and established documentary creators to connect with key stakeholders and explore opportunities for project development, post-production support and market access.
The event witnessed significant international participation, receiving 155 submissions from 19 countries in 35 languages. Out of these, 12 documentary projects were selected for pitching and market activities. More than 100 business-to-business (B2B) meetings were conducted during the event, facilitating discussions on co-production partnerships, financing opportunities and distribution strategies.
The successful conclusion of the second edition underscores the growing relevance of documentary storytelling and the increasing demand for dedicated industry platforms that support non-fiction cinema.
A major highlight of the closing ceremony was the announcement of several awards and grants aimed at supporting promising documentary projects at various stages of production and post-production.
Among the most significant recognitions were the Prasad Labs Awards, presented by Nitin Pingle, General Manager of Prasad Labs. The awards provide critical post-production support to selected documentary projects through advanced digital processing services.
The Prasad Labs Post-Production Award provided free 4K Digital Intermediate (DI) services for up to 50 hours at Prasad Labs, Chennai, offering significant post-production support to the selected projects.
Two projects received the prestigious award. The first was On a Good Note, directed by Karishma Rao and produced by Vishwesh S. Prasad. The second recipient was It Takes A Village, directed by Indrajeet More and edited by Akanksha Kalhe.
Another important recognition came through the IICT Post-Production Awards, presented by Satish Narayanan, Director (Academics) at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT). The awards aim to encourage excellence in documentary filmmaking while assisting projects in completing their post-production work.
The IICT award provides a 50 percent discount on 50 hours of 4K Digital Intermediate services. This year’s recipients were Adieu Dilli, directed by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl, and Do Chaar Din, directed by Saanya Anand and produced by Navya Bajaj.
The Reborn India Films Distribution Award was presented by Rahul Agarwal and Rohit Agarwal of Reborn India Films. The award is designed to help documentary projects reach wider audiences through professional distribution support and theatrical exhibition opportunities.
The award includes distribution assistance valued at ₹7 lakh along with a theatrical release across 10 cinema screens. The recipient of the award was On a Good Note, directed by Karishma Rao and produced by Vishwesh S. Prasad, making it one of the most recognized projects of this year’s Doc Bazaar.
In a significant move to encourage documentary and short-film creators, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) introduced three cash grants for the first time under the WAVES Doc Bazaar initiative.
Each grant carries financial support of ₹1 lakh and was presented by Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC.
The grant recipients included Kunchok and His Many Moons, directed and edited by Ashok Meena; The Girl Beneath The Sun, directed by Madhurima Maiti; and Tukro Tukro Prithbi, directed by Asmita Pal and produced by Arunima Chowdhury.
Addressing the closing ceremony, NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum highlighted the growing response from the documentary filmmaking community and noted that the strong participation reflected the need for a dedicated marketplace focused on non-fiction storytelling.
He said that receiving more than 150 entries from across the world demonstrated the increasing demand for platforms that connect documentary creators with funding agencies, broadcasters, distributors and international collaborators.
Magdum assured participants that NFDC would continue to strengthen initiatives such as WAVES Doc Bazaar and remain committed to nurturing emerging voices in documentary and short-form cinema.
The marketplace served as a bridge between filmmakers and the wider audiovisual industry, enabling meaningful conversations around content development, financing models, international collaborations and audience outreach. Industry observers noted that the platform has emerged as an important catalyst for documentary filmmaking in India and beyond.
The participation of filmmakers from 19 countries and the conduct of more than 100 structured B2B meetings reflected the growing international profile of the event and its ability to create opportunities for cross-border partnerships.
Organisers said the second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar concluded with a shared commitment to promoting impactful documentary storytelling and ensuring that innovative non-fiction projects receive the support required to reach audiences worldwide.
With increasing global participation, institutional support and industry engagement, WAVES Doc Bazaar is steadily establishing itself as a significant documentary marketplace within the international film ecosystem and an important platform for showcasing diverse voices and stories from across the world.
