The Reel Making Challenge at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 has received an overwhelming response, with 3,379 registrations from across India and 20 countries.

The competition, launched as a key initiative under WAVES 2025, highlights India’s growing influence as a global hub for media and entertainment while also reflecting the country’s rapidly expanding digital creator economy. It aligns with the Government of India’s Create in India vision, empowering talent from across the nation and beyond, a government statement said yesterday.

The competition has seen notable international participation from Afghanistan, Albania,  the United States, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, UAE, Australia, and Germany, among others. This global reach highlights the increasing influence of India’s creative sector and the appeal of WAVES as a premier platform for content creators worldwide.

Domestically, the challenge has drawn entries from diverse and remote locations across India, including Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Dimapur (Nagaland), Kargil (Ladakh), Leh, Shopian (Kashmir), Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Teliamora (Tripura), Kasaragod (Kerala) and Gangtok (Sikkim).

The strong response to WAVES’ Reel Making Challenge from smaller towns and emerging creative hubs reflects India’s rich storytelling traditions and growing digital creator ecosystem.

As part of the challenge, participants above the age of 20 are required to create Reels on themes such as ‘Viksit Bharat’, highlighting India’s existing technological and infrastructure advancements, and “India @ 2047”, envisioning the nation’s future growth in these sectors.

These themes provide a platform for storytellers to present India’s innovation journey through concise 30-60 second films, showcasing their creativity and vision for the country’s progress.

The winners of the Reel Making Challenge will receive exclusive opportunities, including an invitation to a Meta-hosted event and a Reels masterclass in 2025, apart from an all-expenses-paid access to WAVES 2025, where they will be honoured.

The government said that the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting would also extend support to finalists to participate at international-level content creator competitions.

Winner Reels will be showcased in the prestigious WAVES Hall of Fame, on the official WAVES website, and social media platforms.

WAVES 2025 takes its inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and mission to provide a new global identity to India’s creative prowess and establish India as a premier destination for media, entertainment, and content creation.

This Summit will bring together industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators to discuss emerging trends, foster collaborations, showcase India’s rich creative ecosystem and to implement PM’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’