At this year’s WIP and Co-Production showcases, the WAVES Film Bazaar — the bustling industry arm of the International Film Festival of India — continued to evolve into a vital space for creative exchange, presenting a mix of emerging voices and experienced producers. Its growing relevance is reflected not only in the projects selected but also in the increasing support mechanisms designed to help films move from script to screen.

One of the most talked-about titles is Vishwendra Singh’s debut feature “Feather Men” (Khoriya), an immigrant drama rooted in the lives of two Nepali half-brothers fighting to save their fragile poultry business during a bird-flu crisis. The film, still in the editing stage, offers a blend of quiet tension and emotional intimacy, anchored by characters pushed to the edge of their worlds. Producer Niharika Singh describes the story as a universal search for dignity, especially for those living far from the spotlight of India’s expanding cities.

A different kind of emotional terrain shapes Bosco Bhandarkar’s “Shadow Hill: Of Spirits and Men,” selected for the Co-Production Market and backed by Kiran Rao’s Kindling Pictures. Blending humor, grief, and quiet eeriness, the film follows two men on a treasure hunt in Goa, guided by a mysterious woman whose presence unsettles their plans. Bhandarkar draws deeply from childhood memories of the region, weaving themes of loss, urban overgrowth, and the private worlds people hide beneath everyday conversations. Kindling Pictures has already committed a quarter of the film’s budget and is seeking collaborators to complete financing.

Aarti Neharsh’s psychological horror “Kanda” (“No Onions”) adds another intriguing layer to this year’s line-up. Set in Ahmedabad, the story follows a pregnant woman whose cravings for forbidden foods disrupt her tightly controlled household, exposing conflicts tied to caste purity, discipline, and family ritual. With support already secured from Jouska Films and Gubbara Entertainment, the film sits in late development and aims for pre-production by mid-2026. Neharsh’s script draws from her own lived environment, using hunger as both metaphor and menace.

Beyond the film selections, the WAVES Film Bazaar unveiled two new awards designed to push promising projects toward completion. The first, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network City of Film Award, will honor the top Co-Production Market project committed to shooting primarily in Mumbai. Supported by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Vault/Costume Peti, the award includes free access to Mumbai locations, props, and costume resources — a package aimed at encouraging sustainable production practices through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The Matchbox Gap Award offers another major boost, providing soft finance of INR15–20 lakh for post-production services along with expert mentorship from Matchbox Shots LLP. Eligible films must already have a rough cut, giving creators crucial support during the demanding finishing phase. NFDC managing director Prakash Magdum stressed how essential it is to help filmmakers at these pivotal turning points, a sentiment echoed by Matchbox Shots co-founder Sanjay Routray, who hopes to encourage storytellers to take bold creative risks within their craft. More information on eligibility and support can be found through the NFDC.