The WAVES Film Bazaar Co-Production Market (CPM) 2025 has officially unveiled its highly diverse selection of projects. Set to run from November 20 to 24, 2025, at the Marriott Resort in Goa, the 19th edition of the Bazaar will present a robust slate aimed at fostering international financing and collaboration for global independent cinema.
The Co-Production Market features a curated collection of 22 feature films and 5 documentary projects, totaling 27 projects sourced from eight countries. These countries include India, France, the UK, Canada, the USA, Russia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
A key highlight of the selection is its deep linguistic and cultural representation, with projects spanning an astonishing 19 languages. These range from major languages like Hindi, English, and Malayalam to regional and local tongues such as Manipuri, Tangkhul, Haryanvi, Ladakhi, and Odia.
The lineup represents a strong cross-section of both emerging voices and established figures in the global film industry. Acclaimed producers and directors set to participate include Kiran Rao, Vikramaditya Motwane, Shakun Batra, Devashish Makhija, Ira Dubey, Shaunak Sen, and BAFTA award-winning Director Ben Crichton.
These filmmakers will engage in the signature Open Pitch session, presenting their projects to a curated audience of international and Indian financiers, distributors, festival programmers, and sales agents, with the goal of securing the final components for production.
The feature selections promise engaging narratives that blend sharp social commentary with compelling personal drama:
- Kanda (No Onions): Backed by Shakun Batra’s Jouska Films, this film follows a pregnant daughter-in-law in a devout Gujarati family whose intense craving for forbidden foods threatens the household’s order.
- What Remains Unsaid: Produced by Devashish Makhija, this Hindi-Haryanvi film centers on a journalist who returns to her ancestral Haryana village to investigate an honour killing, forcing her to confront her own fractured past.
- Mayapuri (City of Illusions): Aranya Sahay’s political narrative about a young mechanic in Delhi who becomes the victim of a mislabeled nuclear device mistakenly auctioned in a scrapyard, leading his partner to fight rampant corruption.
- Kakthet (Idiot): A Ladakhi project by Stenzin Tankong about a mischievous class 10 student whose passing is crucial for the survival of his government school.
- Tyres will be Deflated: Academy Award-nominated producer Shaunak Sen is backing this dark comedy about a conflict-averse Malayali professor in Delhi who spirals into absurdity over a bitter parking dispute.
The WAVES Film Bazaar is expanding its global reach through a collaboration with the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), which includes a project cross-exchange initiative featuring the project “Gloria.” Additionally, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will highlight three compelling projects—“Shamed,” “Smash,” and “Tiger in the Lion Den”—under its dedicated Handpicked Focused Projects section. The inclusion of five documentaries covering diverse genres (Arts, Music, Culture, Environment, and Gender/Sexuality) marks a significant addition to the market’s scope this year.
With its blend of veteran expertise, global project scope, and sharp focus on diverse, authentic storytelling, the WAVES Film Bazaar 2025 Co-Production Market is poised to be a foundational event for the next wave of independent global cinema.
Key Highlights:
- Global Project Slate: The WAVES Film Bazaar Co-Production Market (CPM) 2025 will run from November 20-24 in Goa, showcasing 27 projects (22 features, 5 documentaries) from eight countries.
- Diverse Stories: The selection is linguistically rich, representing 19 languages, including Hindi, English, Malayalam, Manipuri, and Ladakhi, highlighting deep cultural representation.
- Key Participants: The event will host acclaimed industry figures like Kiran Rao, Vikramaditya Motwane, Shakun Batra, and Shaunak Sen, who will pitch their films to international financiers and sales agents.
- Noteworthy Features: Feature films include Shakun Batra’s Kanda (No Onions), Devashish Makhija’s What Remains Unsaid, and Shaunak Sen’s Tyres will be Deflated, focusing on strong social commentary and personal drama.