India’s multi-pronged engagement at the European Film Market (EFM) 2026, held alongside the Berlin International Film Festival, took centre stage last week with a high-impact Bharat Parv event at the Ritz, underlining the country’s expanding role as a global cinematic and creative economy hub, apart from other initiatives.

Organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit) initiative, the Ritz gathering brought together international film leaders, policymakers, creators and entrepreneurs to discuss cross-border collaborations and future-focused content strategies, according to an official statement put out yesterday by the Indian government.

The WAVES Bazaar at Bharat Parv showcased India as a ‘global content factory’, with distinguished global speakers, including Marten Rabarts of IFFR Pro, Katharina Suckale of Bombay Berlin Film Productions and Tommaso Priante of Luminalia, engaging in a high-level panel on scaling production, talent and business models.

The discussion spotlighted platforms such as Film Bazaar and WAVEX, and championed government-backed initiatives such as the Create in India Challenge that link Indian storytelling with international markets.

The event also featured significant presentations by Indian government representatives. Kapil Mishra, Minister of Tourism, Art & Culture, Government of Delhi, and Ashish Shelar, Minister for IT & Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, highlighted vibrant regional film tourism agendas.

Mishra outlined Delhi’s single-window film facilitation and streamlined clearances to attract large-scale productions, while Shelar showcased Mumbai’s Dadasaheb Phalke Film City infrastructure and fiscal incentives aimed at drawing global partnerships.

The Bharat Parv forum also spotlighted international co-production achievements, with a dedicated panel on ‘Kurinji’, an India-France-Germany feature developed through NFDC’s co-production market and Berlinale Talents support. Writer-director Payal Sethi joined her global producing partners to discuss nuanced storytelling transcending cultural boundaries, reflecting the deepening ties between Indian and European film communities, the official statement asserted.

Tapping into industry innovation, the open pitch segment drew attention to nine feature film projects seeking co-production and financing partners, spanning genres from Hindi-Japanese mysteries to Tamil-English animated features and Himalayan dramas.

The Wave X showcase, according to the MIB statement, highlighted Indian media-tech startups presenting AI-driven storytelling tools, immersive platforms and local technologies, signalling India’s drive to blend creative art with cutting-edge technology.

State delegates and industry representatives engaged in intensive B2B meetings with global filmmakers, distributors and festival programmers, exploring content distribution, talent exchange and long-term creative alliances.