The BRICS WAVES Bazaar 2026 concluded successfully in Mumbai after two days of high-level industry discussions, business networking and international collaboration, marking a major step forward for India’s growing role in the global creative economy.
Hosted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the two-day marketplace brought together representatives from 20 BRICS member and partner countries. The event provided a common platform for filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, investors, technology companies, government representatives and creative enterprises to explore new opportunities across the media and entertainment sector.
Over 900 Delegates and 275 B2B Meetings
The Bazaar witnessed participation from more than 900 industry delegates. More than 275 curated business-to-business meetings were organised between producers, studios, broadcasters, film commissions, AVGC-XR companies, investors, technology firms and other creative-sector stakeholders.
These discussions focused on potential co-productions, investment opportunities, business partnerships, institutional cooperation and long-term creative exchanges.
The extensive participation highlighted the growing importance of international collaboration in areas including cinema, television, animation, gaming, digital media and emerging technologies.
NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum said the Bazaar demonstrated the significant potential for creative cooperation between BRICS nations and partner countries.
He noted that the partnerships initiated during the event could lead to stronger co-productions, commercial collaborations and sustained creative exchange. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to using the WAVES platform to build long-term connections within the global creative economy.
India-Brazil Partnership Gets Fresh Push
One of the notable developments was the exchange of a Letter of Intent between Prakash Magdum and Daniel Celli, Head of the Rio Film Commission in Brazil.
The agreement is aimed at strengthening audiovisual cooperation between NFDC and RioFilme and facilitating greater Brazilian participation at WAVES 2027. The initiative is expected to provide additional momentum to India-Brazil cooperation in the film and entertainment sector.
NFDC and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) also highlighted their continuing engagement with Gosfilmofond of Russia. The two FIAF-member archival institutions are exploring possibilities for further formalising cooperation in the preservation and exchange of cinematic heritage.
Global South Film Festival and India-Vietnam Cooperation
Representatives from South Africa, Russia, Thailand and Kazakhstan announced plans for the proposed Global South Film Festival 2027.
The initiative is intended to create stronger cultural and cinematic connections among emerging creative economies and provide filmmakers with greater opportunities for international exposure and collaboration.
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Another important development came from India and Vietnam. The Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) and Vietnam’s Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a Record of Meeting aimed at deepening film cooperation and working towards a formal bilateral agreement.
New MoUs Strengthen India’s Creative Ecosystem
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and Graphiti Multimedia Pvt. Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering industry partnerships, content development, academic programmes, innovation, monetisation and talent development.
Meanwhile, the Assam AVGC-XR Development Association entered into strategic MoUs with the Game Developers Association of India, MEAI and the Indian Comics Association.
The partnerships are expected to support game development, comics, intellectual property distribution and access to international markets.
The Indian Comics Association and MEAI also signed an MoU focused on international collaboration, delegation exchanges, market access and IP distribution.
Major Film and AI Announcements
The Bazaar also witnessed several major cross-border creative announcements.
The India-Portugal feature film Portuguese Man ‘O War was announced with producers and partners from India, Brazil, Portugal and France. The India-Russia co-production KOROVA, backed by Kartina Entertainment and VEGA Films, was also officially unveiled.
Czech production company Movie s.r.o. and India’s Cinema4Good announced plans for an international historical epic based on Tomáš Baťa, involving creative partners from India, the Czech Republic, China, South Africa and the UAE.
Artificial intelligence also emerged as a major focus. South Korea’s nCORE Inc. and UAE-based VisionX announced the launch of Calivision AI Studio in India, which will focus on AI-driven content production for cinematic and immersive storytelling.
BRICS Independent Producers Alliance Unveiled
Industry leaders also announced the BRICS Independent Producers Alliance (BIPA), envisioned as a permanent international platform for producers across BRICS nations.
The proposed alliance will focus on collaboration, investment, education and innovation, potentially creating new pathways for independent producers to access international markets and financing.
The event also featured the launch of KLIP, a premium micro-drama platform, while ETV unveiled the poster of its upcoming Indian anime series intended for television broadcast. Vaibhavi Studios announced its upcoming anime feature film TRIO.
India Strengthens Creative Diplomacy
The successful conclusion of BRICS WAVES Bazaar 2026 underlines India’s expanding ambitions in the global media and entertainment industry.
By bringing governments, producers, creators, investors, technology companies and institutions together, the Bazaar created opportunities for meaningful cross-border partnerships beyond traditional film production.
The event covered a broad creative spectrum, including films, television, animation, gaming, AVGC-XR, digital content and emerging technologies.
With hundreds of industry meetings and multiple international agreements and announcements, BRICS WAVES Bazaar 2026 has strengthened the foundation for future co-productions, investment and cultural exchanges.
The initiative also reinforces India’s strategy of positioning creative industries as an important pillar of cultural diplomacy, technological innovation and economic growth, while creating stronger connections between BRICS countries and the wider Global South.
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