A project developed under the WAVES Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab 2025 has secured an international production partnership, marking a significant milestone for the National Film Development Corporation’s (NFDC) flagship talent development initiative.
“Yayavar – The Migrating Bird”, written, directed and produced by Dr. Darshan Ashwin Trivedi, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for collaboration between iRoller Media & Entertainment (India) and Norse Key Productions (Finland).
Under the agreement, the two production houses will jointly develop, finance and produce the film while also positioning it for international audiences. iRoller Media & Entertainment will serve as the lead producer, overseeing financing, production planning and execution. Norse Key Productions will facilitate post-production activities in Finland and support the film’s international outreach and festival strategy.
The collaboration highlights the growing global recognition of projects emerging from the WAVES Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab, which aims to nurture original Indian storytelling and connect filmmakers with international partners.
NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum said the partnership reflects the vision behind the Screenwriters’ Lab. He said the programme was created to provide original Indian voices with mentorship, craft development and market access, adding that seeing a project progress from script development to an international collaboration is the outcome the initiative was designed to achieve.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Dr. Darshan Ashwin Trivedi thanked the NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab for its support and said he looks forward to working with partners from India and Finland on the project.
The NFDC said the project’s journey from the Screenwriters’ Lab to an international co-production demonstrates the programme’s commitment to supporting writers beyond script development by facilitating production opportunities and global market access.
The corporation also announced that the Call for Entries for the WAVES Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab 2026 will open shortly, with details to be released on the official platforms of WAVES Film Bazaar and NFDC.
Established in 2007, the Screenwriters’ Lab is one of NFDC’s flagship initiatives for screenplay development. Over the years, it has supported several acclaimed Indian films, including The Lunchbox, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Titli, A Death in the Gunj and Ullozhukku.
The 20th edition of WAVES Film Bazaar is scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to 24, 2026, alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), bringing together filmmakers, producers, financiers, distributors and festival programmers from across the world.
