: Mumbai, February 15, 2025

An outreach program for WAVES 2025 was held at the Berlin Film Festival 2025 today, where the Indian delegation engaged with major film producers from around the world participating in the European Film Market. The session served as a platform to showcase India's unique blend of ancient heritage and modern technological advancements, fostering global collaborations in the media and entertainment sector. The session also extended an open invitation to the leading producers from the film industry and major technological players to come and participate in Waves 2025 to foster collaboration and innovation in the AVGC sector.  

Speaking on the occasion at Berlinale, veteran director and actor Shri Shekhar Kapur delivered an inspiring address emphasizing the immense potential of the Indian entertainment industry. He stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision is to empower creators from every corner of India by providing them with a global platform. He described WAVES as an excellent opportunity for international industry leaders to collaborate with India’s fast-growing AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector.

Shri Kapur further emphasized India's technological momentum, expressing confidence that the country is poised to emerge as a global leader in the technical domain. He noted that with sustained growth and innovation, Indian companies will soon be able to compete with major global technology players.

Speaking on the essence of storytelling, the renowned film maker stressed that the art lies in conveying narratives from the perspective of the listener. He remarked that storytelling requires different mediums, and WAVES 2025 is designed to provide creators with cutting-edge platforms to tell their stories in innovative and immersive ways.

The Berlin International Film Festival, commonly known as Berlinale, is one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, attracting filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals from across the globe. Held annually in Berlin, Germany, the festival serves as a hub for creative exchange, celebrating diverse cinematic voices and groundbreaking storytelling. The European Film Market (EFM), a key component of Berlinale, provides a platform for international film and media companies to network, collaborate, and explore business opportunities.

Earlier, during the event, a presentation was done by the representatives from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting underscoring India’s vast cultural diversity, traditions, and its fusion with cutting-edge technology. The presentation emphasized that India’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem is driving a new wave of innovation, making it an attractive hub for global partnerships in film, animation, visual effects, gaming, and XR (Extended Reality). Participants were briefed on the various opportunities available under the WAVES initiative, which aims to bring Indian talent to the forefront of the global media landscape.

Key highlights from the presentation included:

• The role of WAVES in bridging India’s ancient storytelling traditions with modern digital formats.
• The initiative’s focus is on fostering collaboration between Indian and global creators through the Waves platform of B2B collaboration and Waves Bazar.
• Opportunities in animation, gaming, and XR technology for international investors through the WaveXcclerator program.
• Showcasing the power of imagination and innovation through 30 plus challenges under the Create in India challenge season one.
• Government-backed initiatives supporting content creators, startups, and technological advancements in media and entertainment.

About WAVES 2025

WAVES 2025 is a global summit scheduled to be held in Mumbai from 1^st May to 4^th May 2025, aimed at fostering innovation, creativity, and collaboration in the media, entertainment, and technology sectors. WAVES will bring together creators, industry leaders, and investors to explore new opportunities in animation, gaming, visual effects, and XR (Extended Reality). With a vision to position India as a global powerhouse in the AVGC-XR sector, WAVES 2025 promotes skill development, entrepreneurship, and cross-border collaborations.

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