Indian actor Konkona Sen Sharma (“Killer Soup,” “Wake Up Sid”) has been cast as the lead female protagonist opposite Carlos Bardem (“El Cid”) in the comedy feature “Mis(s)chief,” it was revealed at the Film Bazaar in Goa. The project hails from U.K. and India-based production outfit Avani Films and is currently in development. It has […]

During a panel at India’s Film Bazaar, Prime Video India’s content licensing head Manish Menghani and filmmaker Nikkhil Advani (“Freedom at Midnight”) discussed the evolving landscape of streaming content development in India, with “Delhi Crime” creator Richie Mehta moderating. Menghani traced how the Indian streaming space has transformed since Prime Video’s 2016 launch, identifying COVID-19 […]

U.K. and India-based production company Civic Studios is presenting “Just Like Her Mother,” a series exploring the women’s rights movement through an intergenerational story, at India’s Film Bazaar co-production market. Venice Film Festival winner Ruchika Oberoi (“Island City”) is in talks to direct. The series follows a daughter’s investigation into her mother’s disappearance, while examining […]

A panel of film industry veterans at Film Bazaar highlighted both opportunities and challenges facing independent Indian cinema, particularly in distribution and theatrical exhibition. During a discussion moderated by Rajeev Masand, COO of Dharma Cornerstone Agency, panelists addressed the complex ecosystem required to sustain independent filmmaking in India. “There is absolutely no independence,” said filmmaker […]

Bhutanese filmmaker Dechen Roder’s “I, The Song” has been acquired by Fidalgo Film Distribution for Norway. The film had its world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where the acquisition was made, and has its Asia premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. In the film, to save her job and reputation, a […]

“Bidjara Kumari,” a pioneering feature film bridging Australian Aboriginal and Indian cultures is taking shape, it was revealed at the ongoing Film Bazaar in Goa. The announcement comes as Australia takes center stage as the focus country at the International Film Festival of India IFFI, of which Film Bazaar is the project market component. The […]

Indian entrepreneur Prasanna Ajarekar has launched Anashwar Media and Entertainment, marking the company’s debut with director Nikhil Mahajan’s “Taxi Driver” at the ongoing Film Bazaar project market. The film follows a taxi driver and a thief whose lives intersect during one fateful night, revealing an unexpected connection from their past. Production is set to commence […]

Vertigo Releasing has acquired U.K. and Ireland distribution rights to “The Kingdom,” directed by Corsican filmmaker Julien Colonna. The organized crime thriller and coming-of-age drama is set for theatrical release in spring 2025. The film, which bowed in the Un Certain Regard strand at Cannes, centers on a teenage girl named Lesia who discovers her […]

Indian technology startup Vireza is developing a new mobile application that aims to revolutionize the theatrical movie-watching experience by allowing audiences to interact with films in real-time, founder Arjun Nittoor revealed at Film Bazaar. The technology, developed entirely in-house at the company’s Bengaluru R&D facility, enables moviegoers to participate in key story decisions throughout the […]

Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcasting heavyweight, rolled out its streaming platform Waves at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, marking the state broadcaster’s entry into the country’s competitive streaming space. The platform launches with a slate spanning 12+ languages and 10+ genres, featuring everything from video-on-demand content to free gaming, radio streaming, […]

India’s National Film Development Corporation’s (NFDC) Film Bazaar market has expanded into series development and attracted robust registrations ahead of its 2024 edition, running alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The market has selected several series projects in its co-production market, following the introduction of an OTT [streaming] award at IFFI […]

Celebrated Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who serves as festival director of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, has outlined his vision for the 2024 edition, emphasizing a shift away from comparing Indian cinema to Western standards. “For a long time, at every festival, we’ve kind of looked down upon ourselves as though Indian […]

Ana Tiwary’s Sydney-based production company indiVisual films – international is bringing “Home Before Night,” a cross-cultural drama with sci-fi elements, to India’s Film Bazaar’s co-production Market. “It is such a hauntingly beautiful story that mixes drama with elements of science fiction and authentically represents the experiences of migrants in Australia,” says Tiwary (“Terra Incognita”). Written […]

Former Netflix producer Dimpy Agrawal’s production banner Gubbara Entertainment has unveiled a slate of six projects at India’s Film Bazaar, including a project starring Anasuya Sengupta, who made history as the first Indian actor to win best performance at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard for “The Shameless.” Sengupta will headline short “Ma,” penned by Columbia University […]

Paramount’s “Gladiator II” dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office with a £9.1 million ($11.5 million) opening weekend, according to numbers from Comscore. Studiocanal’s “Paddington In Peru” maintained momentum in its sophomore session, collecting £6.8 million for a cumulative £18.8 million after two weeks. Warner Bros.’ “Red One” secured third place with £1.4 million, pushing […]

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa is taking cinema to the streets — quite literally. India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) have partnered with Picturetime Digiplex to screen a selection of films in inflatable theaters at the festival’s 55th edition. These include S.S. Rajamouli’s global […]

Celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has revealed plans to establish a film school in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum district, with a specific focus on AI technology in filmmaking. The initiative builds on Kapur’s decade-long experience running The Dharavi Project alongside Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, a hip-hop and rap initiative in Dharavi in partnership with Universal Music that […]

ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures’ romantic drama “Hello, Love, Again” achieved a milestone opening weekend of $2.4 million across North America, setting a new record for Philippines cinema in the territory. The sequel to 2019’s “Hello, Love, Goodbye” surpassed expectations, with its opening weekend earnings already exceeding the entire North American run of its predecessor, […]

STREAMING SUCCESS Netflix leads the pack with two nominations as India’s streaming platforms gear up for the Best Web Series Award at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The category, which returns for its sophomore year, has witnessed a robust 40% increase in submissions across 10 major streaming platforms. Netflix’s dual contenders include […]