Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 4: The first edition of WAVES Bazaar, held as part of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), concluded with remarkable momentum, facilitating business transactions expected to surpass Rs 1,000 crore, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The multi-sector marketplace drew significant interest from global stakeholders across film, music, radio, VFX, and animation. As of the event’s close, confirmed deals had already exceeded Rs 800 crore, with further agreements in the pipeline.
A major highlight was the Buyer-Seller Market, which hosted over 3,000 business-to-business meetings, generating more than ?500 crore in revenue alone. The flurry of deal-making reinforced the event’s emergence as a premier international platform for creative industry exchange.
WAVES Bazaar also served as a vital launchpad for new talent. Emerging creators showcased their intellectual properties (IPs) to a global audience, sparking widespread interest and forging valuable partnerships. Curated film screenings in the dedicated 80-seat venue were met with enthusiasm and praise from attendees.
Among the standout developments in international collaboration was a new initiative between Film India Screen Collective and Screen Canterbury NZ, spearheaded by Petrina D’Rozario. The partnership plans to host the first-ever Indian Film Festival in New Zealand, inspired by the WAVES platform.
Further, cross-border cultural ties between India and Russia gained traction as Only Much Louder (OML) CEO Tushar Kumar and Gazprom Media CEO Alexander Zharov began discussions on a potential MoU to co-produce comedy and music content, along with joint cultural festivals.
Another significant announcement came from Prime Video and South Korea’s CJ ENM, unveiling a multi-year content partnership. Launching in June 2025 with the series Head Over Heels, the agreement will bring premium Korean entertainment to audiences in over 240 countries, with 28 subtitle languages and 11 dubbed versions.
With its groundbreaking debut, WAVES Bazaar has firmly established itself as a global nexus for creative collaboration, setting the tone for a transformative era of cross-border storytelling and industry innovation.