The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by India from May 1 to 4, 2025
Our Bureau
Mumbai
Storytelling, cinema, and digital content took the spotlight at ‘Making WAVES – the Culture Forum’ hosted during the India Global Forum’s NXT25: Leading the Leap Summit at the Jio World Convention Centre recently. The forum brought together some of India’s most iconic voices across entertainment and media to explore the evolving narrative of India emerging as a global powerhouse for content and digital innovation.
It was a precursor for the WAVES Summit to be held here next month.
The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, WAVES Bazaar will be hosted by India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.
In a Fireside Chat titled, ‘Making WAVES – India as a Global Content Hub’, renowned Director and Writer Imtiaz Ali, said: “As a storyteller, I do not have to worry about what everybody likes. The way to find out the code is by finding what I would like. Since I have been in the film industry, I have been told that formula (movie success) is not working. Thank God for that, because if the formula worked, none of us would be here making movies. We (India) have the oldest and most profound culture of storytelling. We learnt everything from storytelling. Everything has been learnt from stories, from the code of conduct to our belief system.”
Continuing the conversation, Monika Shergill, Vice President – Content, Netflix India, highlighted: “The beautiful confluence of creativity and technology has allowed the creators not to be limited to where they are. The biggest enabler of this trend is a resurgence of hyperlocal. Indian audiences are among the most experiential, diverse, curious, and fantastic audiences. As streamers, storytellers, and creators, we must take advantage of this opportunity.”
WAVES Bazaar, the premier global e-marketplace for the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry, is set to make a powerful impact in its inaugural edition, taking place from May 1-4, 2025, at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. As a key component of WAVES 2025, the marketplace will bring together industry leaders from Film, TV, and AVGC (Animation, VFX, Gaming, and Comics) sectors, offering unparalleled opportunities for collaboration, content showcasing, and business expansion.
With an ambitious vision to establish India as a global content hub, WAVES Bazaar will feature a range of exclusive segments, including the Viewing Room, Market Screenings, Buyer and Seller Meetings, and the dynamic Pitchroom, facilitating meaningful connections and driving cross-border partnerships.
WAVES Bazaar will host curated screenings of films, series, and AVGC projects, providing buyers, sales agents, and distributors with exclusive access to fresh and compelling content.
The Viewing Room will offer a dedicated space for industry professionals to explore and acquire new titles, while the Market Screenings will present select projects to a global audience, creating opportunities for content distribution, licensing, and syndication deals.
In collaboration with FICCI Frames Content Marketplace, WAVES Bazaar will offer a structured Buyer and Seller segment, enabling one-on-one meetings between key stakeholders, including producers, studios, broadcasters, and platforms.
These targeted B2B interactions aim to accelerate deal-making, co-productions, and content acquisitions, fostering international collaborations and strengthening industry ties.
The Pitchroom will provide a high-energy platform for creators, filmmakers, and content innovators to present their most promising concepts to investors, producers, and commissioning editors.
Designed to spotlight emerging talent and innovative projects, the Pitchroom will serve as a launchpad for new content ventures and potential co-productions, making it a must-attend for industry decision-makers.
Prominent industry players have lauded WAVES Bazaar for its potential to transform content trade and partnerships. “We are excited to participate in WAVES Bazaar across multiple segments,” said Murlidhar Chhatwani, Chief Business Officer, and Rajat Goswami, Head of Film Acquisitions and Syndication at Panorama Studios.
“This marketplace provides an incredible platform for showcasing our projects, securing meaningful collaborations, and expanding our global reach in the entertainment industry.”
WAVES Bazaar is poised to become a game-changer for content creators, buyers, and investors, offering an influential platform to discover new content, form partnerships, and explore distribution and co-production opportunities.
The event invites buyers, sellers, investors, and M&E professionals to participate and leverage WAVES Bazaar for strategic growth and international collaborations.
Whether one is an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.
WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation.
