The Waves Film Bazaar 2025 wrapped up with a grand closing ceremony at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), marking the end of five vibrant days filled with collaboration, creativity and breakthrough cinematic showcases.

According to a press release from the organisers, the event once again proved to be a dynamic meeting ground for global filmmakers, funders, industry leaders and emerging talent.

The evening brought together an impressive lineup of dignitaries, including Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan MN and Dr. K. K. Nirala, Managing Director of NFDC Prakash Magdum, Advisor of Waves Film Bazaar Jerome Paillard, Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, celebrated filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani and Sriram Raghavan, and international actor Rachel Griffiths. The ceremony opened on an emotional note with a one-minute silence observed in honour of legendary actor Dharmendra, recognising his immeasurable contribution to Indian cinema.

In his address, Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan announced that the 20th edition of WAVES Film Bazaar will see an expanded version, promising larger engagement and enhanced opportunities for filmmakers. Prakash Magdum highlighted the strong impact of previously selected projects and reaffirmed NFDC’s commitment to nurturing independent minds and giving emerging creators a platform to grow. A special wrap-up video showcasing the best moments of the five-day event set the celebratory tone for the evening.

This year’s edition recognised excellence across multiple sections including the Co-Production Market, Work-in-Progress Lab, Script Lab and the newly introduced AI-driven categories. ‘Kakthet’ (‘Idiot’) won the First Co-Production Grant of $10,000, while ‘Ulta’ (Madam) secured the Second Co-Production Grant of $5,000. ‘Simhastha Kumbh’ received a Special Documentary Grant worth $5,000. Projects such as ‘The Manager’, ‘Azhi’ and ‘Ustad Bantoo’ were honoured with the Red Sea Fund Awards, while ‘Nazma Ka Tadka’ was awarded the Platoon One Script Development Grant. The Casting Company Awards went to ‘Teacher’s Pet’ and ‘White Guy’, with 7 to 7 winning the UCCN City of Film Best Project Award.

In the post-production segment, several standout projects including ‘Khoriya’, ‘Azhi’, ‘The Ink Stained Hand’ and the ‘Missing Thumb’, ‘Born Yesterday’, ‘Aakkaatti’ and ‘Khamosh Nazar Aate Hain’ received major support from Nube Studios, Prasad Corporation, Moviebuff and other industry partners. Additional recognitions included the Matchbox GAP Award for Echoes of the Herd, M5 Global Film Fund support for ‘Soul Whispers’, and the Reborn India Theatrical Distribution Award presented to ‘Chingam’.

A landmark addition to this year’s festival was the AI Film Festival and CinemAI Hackathon, powered by LTIMindtree, marking a global first in exploring AI’s role in storytelling. With entries from over 18 countries, the awards celebrated innovation across categories. ‘KYRA’ won Best AI Animation, ‘The Cinema That Never Was’ was honoured as the Most Innovative AI Film, and Nagori won Best AI Short. Special mentions included ‘The Last Backup Final Part’ and ‘Miracle on the Kachua Beach’. The CinemAI Hackathon recognised talent across sound, visuals, storytelling and innovation, with ‘The Red Crayon’ winning Best AI Film.

The spotlight on emerging talent continued with the Student Producer’s Workshop, celebrating exceptional young creators such as Kaashviy Ommkaar, Aniket Joshi, Radhika Kinare, Riya Varghese and Sakshi Mishra—underscoring the bright future of Indian cinema.

The ceremony concluded with a warm Vote of Thanks delivered by Vineeta Mishra, Head of Waves Film Bazaar, followed by a celebratory stage appearance by the festival team. With strong participation, strategic partnerships and visionary storytelling at its core, Waves Film Bazaar 2025 ends on a powerful note, setting the stage for an even bigger and more ambitious edition in 2026.