India marked a strong presence at the European Film Market (EFM) 2026 with the launch of the Bharat Pavilion, highlighting the country’s growing global role across cinema, culture and creative technologies.

The initiative reflects India’s expanding engagement with international film industries and its strategic push to position itself as a global hub for storytelling and media innovation.

According to an official media statement issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, India inaugurated the Bharat Pavilion at the market held alongside the Berlin International Film Festival, underlining its focus on strengthening global partnerships in film, culture and technology. The pavilion was inaugurated by India’s Ambassador to Germany, Ajit Vinayak Gupte, in the presence of international market leaders, cultural representatives and members of the Indian film and innovation delegation.

The event reflected growing India–Germany cooperation in the creative and cultural sectors. Representatives from the global film market ecosystem, officials from the National Film Development Corporation of India, and members of the Indian embassy in Berlin attended the launch, highlighting the increasing depth of bilateral collaboration in the entertainment space.

A key highlight of India’s participation is the presence of nine Indian filmmakers, who are engaging with international producers, distributors and festival programmers through structured market meetings and project discussions. Their participation signals rising global interest in Indian stories across languages and genres, while also opening avenues for cross-border co-production partnerships and long-term creative alliances.

India’s delegation also includes four emerging start-ups from the country’s media-tech and creative-tech sectors, showcasing solutions that combine storytelling with digital production and technology. Their participation reflects India’s transition from being primarily a content-producing nation to becoming a hub for technological innovation within the global entertainment ecosystem.

The delegation further features winners of the Create in India Challenge, highlighting young creative entrepreneurs and breakthrough ideas in innovation-driven storytelling. Cultural delegations from Maharashtra and Delhi are also participating, promoting film production incentives, shooting locations and international collaborations, while positioning their regions as attractive filmmaking destinations.

During interactions at the pavilion, officials highlighted India’s upcoming major film festivals, including the Mumbai International Film Festival scheduled for June 2026 and the annual International Film Festival of India in November, positioning them as key global platforms for cinematic exchange and industry collaboration.

Organised by the NFDC, the Bharat Pavilion is serving as a central meeting point for filmmakers, producers, technology innovators and global stakeholders, hosting business meetings, networking sessions and co-production discussions. India is also participating in the EFM Innovation Hub, where Indian start-ups are presenting advanced tools in immersive storytelling, digital production and media ecosystems, demonstrating the country’s growing footprint in AVGC-XR and creative technology.

The Ministry said India’s structured participation at EFM 2026 reflects a broader national strategy to strengthen creative entrepreneurship, foster cultural exchange and drive innovation-led growth in the global media landscape. The Bharat Pavilion, it added, represents India’s expanding engagement with international markets and its ambition to shape the future of global entertainment.