Vinod Bhat
Mumbai, June 14: The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has announced the selected projects under the WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends programme for the second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar, to be held on sidelines of the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), 2026.
The market segment of MIFF will be organized from June 16–18, 2026, at the NFDC Head Office, located at Dr. Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai. It will bring together filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors, festival programmers and industry professionals from the documentary, short film and animation ecosystem.
WAVES Doc Bazaar serves as an industry platform aimed at fostering collaborations, networking and market opportunities through initiatives such as the Viewing Room, Work-in-Progress (WIP) Lab and Business-to-Business (B2B) Meetings.
In a significant initiative to support emerging talent and encourage impactful storytelling, NFDC has introduced cash grants of ₹3 lakh each for three outstanding projects participating in WAVES Doc Bazaar 2026. The grants will recognize projects demonstrating exceptional creative vision, compelling narratives, strong artistic merit and the potential to engage audiences in India and across international markets.
The WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends selection comprises 12 projects, including four projects participating in the Work-in-Progress Lab. Through the WIP Lab, selected filmmakers will present rough cuts of their films to an esteemed panel of international advisors and editors, receiving valuable feedback, mentorship and guidance to further strengthen their projects and prepare them for wider industry engagement and distribution opportunities.
Additionally, eight projects have been selected under the WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends line up. These films, either completed or in the final stages of post-production, are seeking sales, distribution and exhibition opportunities. The programme will facilitate interactions with buyers, distributors, broadcasters, streaming platforms and other industry stakeholders to explore avenues for market access and wider audience reach.
All 12 selected projects will participate in the Open Pitch Session on 16 June 2026, the opening day of the Bazaar. The session will provide filmmakers with an opportunity to present their projects before a diverse audience of industry professionals, including buyers, distributors, broadcasters and festival representatives. It will also enable participants to showcase the unique vision of their films while building meaningful partnerships and collaborations.
A key highlight of the second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar is the Viewing Room, a dedicated digital library platform that allows filmmakers to showcase their work to industry stakeholders, thereby facilitating networking, distribution and acquisition opportunities.
This year, the Viewing Room will feature 155 projects from 19 countries in 35 languages, offering buyers, broadcasters, distributors, festival programmers and other industry stakeholders access to a rich diversity of documentary narratives and perspectives from around the world.
Selected Films for Work-in-Progress Lab 2026
- Adieu Dilli – Directors: Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl
- It Takes A Village – Director: Indrajeet More
- Kunchok and His Many Moons – Director: Ashok Meena
- On a Good Note – Director: Karishma Rao
Selected Films for WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends 2026
- By the Home – Director: Mankap Nokwoham
- Do Chaar Din – Director: Saanya Anand
- Eche – Director: Dingku Thingnam
- Rasanishpathi – Director: Harish K. M.
- Rise – Director: Arastu Zakia
- The Girl Beneath The Sun – Director: Madhurima Maiti
- Turu – Director: Rameshwar Bhatt
- Tukro Tukro Prithibi – Director: Asmita Pal
