The Impressive TimesTIT Correspondent
MUMBAI: The second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar concluded successfully during the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026, reinforcing its position as a vital platform for documentary filmmakers to connect with mentors, producers, broadcasters, distributors and industry experts from around the world.
Held over three days, the event featured project pitches, networking sessions and business interactions, enabling selected filmmakers to explore opportunities for project development, post-production support and distribution partnerships. The platform also facilitated over 100 business-to-business (B2B) meetings, encouraging collaborations, co-productions and funding opportunities.
A highlight of the closing ceremony was the presentation of several awards aimed at supporting promising documentary projects. The Prasad Labs Post-Production Award, presented by General Manager Nitin Pingle, offered free 4K Digital Intermediate (DI) services for up to 50 hours at Prasad Labs, Chennai. The award was presented to “On a Good Note”, directed by Karishma Rao and produced by Vishwesh S. Prasad, and “It Takes A Village”, directed by Indrajeet More and edited by Akanksha Kalhe.
The IICT Post-Production Awards, presented by Satish Narayanan, Director (Academics), Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), provided a 50 per cent discount on 50 hours of 4K DI services. The winners were “Adieu Dilli” by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl, and “Do Chaar Din” directed by Saanya Anand and produced by Navya Bajaj.
The Reborn India Films Distribution Award was awarded to “On a Good Note”, providing theatrical distribution support worth ₹7 lakh across 10 screens.
For the first time, NFDC introduced three cash grants of ₹1 lakh each. The recipients were “Kunchok and His Many Moons” by Ashok Meena, “The Girl Beneath The Sun” by Madhurima Maiti, and “Tukro Tukro Prithbi” by Asmita Pal, produced by Arunima Chowdhury.
Speaking at the ceremony, NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum noted that the event received 155 submissions from 19 countries in 35 languages, reflecting the growing demand for dedicated documentary platforms. He reaffirmed NFDC’s commitment to supporting emerging voices and meaningful non-fiction storytelling. The event concluded with renewed optimism for the future of documentary cinema and global creative collaboration.
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