Talents In Turbo Mode! India’s Next-Gen Creators Hit the Floor as CMOT 2025 Begins
CMOT is not just about Filmmaking, it’s about shaping the Nation’s Creative Future: MoS Dr. L. Murugan
CMOT alumni to be Future Storytellers and Global Cultural Ambassadors of India: Secretary, MIB Shri Sanjay Jaju
#IFFIWood, 21 November 2025
Talents In Turbo Mode! India’s Next-Gen Creators hit the floor as the fifth edition of Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) 2025 kicked off today in Goa, turning the scenic coastal city into a playground for India’s most talented and budding young filmmakers.
125 rising stars are stepping into the spotlight for a high-octane 48-hour filmmaking challenge, where ideas sprint from script to screen in a whirlwind of creativity, collaboration, and cinematic magic. This isn’t just a festival event—it’s where tomorrow’s directors, actors, and storytellers start making their own blockbuster stories.
Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, launched the challenge and lauded the passion and creativity of the participants. He noted the steady growth of the initiative since 2021 and praised CMOT for giving young storytellers an international platform. “This platform connects India’s emerging creators to global producers and creative networks. It is not just about filmmaking—it is about shaping the nation’s creative future,” he said.
Dr. Murugan urged the participants to take on the intense 48-hour filmmaking challenge, emphasizing that “these high-pressure experiences sharpen your skills and bring out your very best.” He also highlighted key government initiatives, including the newly launched Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in Mumbai, designed to nurture talent, strengthen India’s creative ecosystem, and boost the Orange Economy, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision for a vibrant, innovation-driven creative sector.
Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Sanjay Jaju, congratulated the selected youth, calling their inclusion a significant achievement. Praising their enthusiasm, he recalled the exceptional films produced in last year’s challenge, describing the final showcase as “almost Oscar-like.” He emphasized that CMOT fosters rare collaboration, where strangers come together to create compelling stories under pressure. “Many of you will go on to become the future storytellers and global cultural ambassadors of India,” he said, citing the example of a CMOT alumnus who recently won a National Film Award.
Founder and CEO of Shorts International, Carter Pilcher, described this year’s CMOT as one of the most exciting editions to date. He applauded the Ministry for building a platform unparalleled at any other global festival. “Participants from earlier editions are already screening at Cannes, at major festivals worldwide, and even making it to the Oscars shortlist,” he said. Pilcher urged the creators to use this opportunity to learn, collaborate, and push creative boundaries, reiterating that short-form storytelling is now at the heart of global entertainment.
Joint Secretary (Films) Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan and NFDC Managing Director Shri Prakash Magdum were also present during the inauguration.
About Creative Minds Of Tomorrow (CMOT)
Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) is a visionary initiative by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), designed to discover, nurture, and spotlight the rising stars of the Indian film industry. It's not just a talent program — it's a launchpad for the storytellers of the future, who will drive India's creative economy.
Each year, CMOT transforms raw passion into cinematic brilliance, offering budding filmmakers from across the country an extraordinary opportunity: to showcase their skills on a global platform at one of Asia's most prestigious film festivals.
The initiative has seen four successful editions take place on the sidelines of India's premiere film festival, IFFI. In the landmark fifth edition, CMOT will once again feature around 125 youth talents in a total of 13 film crafts from across India.
About IFFI
Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.
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