Waves Film Bazaar Announces $20,000 Cash Grants for Co-Production Market at 19th Edition in Goa

Chandigarh, August 30, 2025: Waves Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest film market and an integral part of India’s international film outreach, has officially opened calls for its Co-Production Market at the 19th edition. The event is scheduled to take place from November 20–24, 2025, at the Marriott Resort, Goa.
Running alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Film Bazaar was rebranded as Waves Film Bazaar as part of a broader strategic vision to position India as a global hub for content, creativity, and co-productions. Over the years, it has established itself as a premier platform connecting Indian and South Asian filmmaking talent with international professionals. Last year, it attracted more than 1,800 participants from over 40 countries, underscoring its growing influence in the global film industry.
The Co-Production Market, a flagship feature of Waves Film Bazaar, invites submissions for Feature and Documentary projects. Since its inception in 2007, this platform has created curated opportunities for filmmakers to secure both artistic and financial support. It continues to unite film professionals worldwide, fostering international partnerships and collaborative co-productions. Several acclaimed films — including The Lunchbox, Dum Lagake Haisha, Newton, Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Girls Will Be Girls, and In the Belly of a Tiger — have been associated with Waves Film Bazaar, reflecting its impact on shaping global cinema.
For the 2025 edition, Waves Film Bazaar will award a total of $20,000 in cash grants to three winning projects. The First Prize of $10,000 will go to a Feature project, while the Second Prize of $5,000 will also recognize another Feature. In addition, a Special Cash Grant of $5,000 will be awarded to a Documentary project, providing crucial development funding for filmmakers to advance their creative vision.
This cash grant initiative, launched in 2024, has already helped promising filmmakers. In the previous edition, Kurinji (The Disappearing Flower) directed by Payal Sethi won the First Prize; Kothiyan – Fishers of Men directed by Sanju Surendran and produced by Pramod Sankar won the Second Prize; while All Ten Heads of Ravana directed by Pranjal Dua and produced by Bich-Quan Tran secured the Third Prize.
The submission deadline for Feature film projects is September 7, 2025, while Documentary project submissions close on September 13, 2025. Selected filmmakers will gain invaluable opportunities to engage with producers, distributors, sales agents, and financiers, paving the way for meaningful collaboration and co-production deals.
Beyond the Co-Production Market, Waves Film Bazaar offers a wide range of activities such as Market Screenings, the Viewing Room — a video library showcasing about 200 new and unseen Indian and South Asian films — as well as industry-focused events like the Work-In-Progress Lab, Knowledge Series, Producer’s Workshop, Country Pavilions, and Market Stalls. Together, these initiatives reaffirm Waves Film Bazaar’s commitment to nurturing talent, fostering industry dialogue, and elevating South Asian cinema on the global stage.