NFDC unveils 12 documentary projects for WAVES Doc Bazaar 2026, introduces ₹9 lakh grant support
The market segment of the festival will be held from June 16 to 18 at the NFDC headquarters in Mumbai, bringing together filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors, festival programmers and industry
Four projects have been selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab, where filmmakers will present rough cuts of their documentaries to an international panel of advisors and editors.
Mumbai: The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has announced the selection of 12 documentary projects under the “WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends” programme for the second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar, which will be held alongside the 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026.
The market segment of the festival will be held from June 16 to 18 at the NFDC headquarters in Mumbai, bringing together filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors, festival programmers and industry professionals from the documentary, short film and animation sectors.
In a major boost for independent documentary filmmaking, NFDC has introduced cash grants of ₹3 lakh each for three outstanding projects participating in WAVES Doc Bazaar 2026. The grants are intended to support projects that demonstrate exceptional creative vision, compelling storytelling, artistic excellence and strong potential to connect with audiences in India and overseas.
The WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends programme selected 12 projects from a highly competitive pool of 155 submissions received from 19 countries and representing 35 languages.
Designed as a key industry platform, WAVES Doc Bazaar aims to facilitate collaborations, networking and business opportunities through initiatives such as the Viewing Room, Work-in-Progress (WIP) Lab and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings.
Four projects have been selected for the Work-in-Progress Lab, where filmmakers will present rough cuts of their documentaries to an international panel of advisors and editors. The programme is intended to provide critical feedback, mentorship and strategic guidance to help participants strengthen their films and prepare them for wider distribution and industry engagement.
The selected WIP Lab projects are:
- Adieu Dilli — directed by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl
- It Takes A Village — directed by Indrajeet More
- Kunchok and His Many Moons — directed by Ashok Meena
- On a Good Note — directed by Karishma Rao
Eight additional projects have been selected under the WAVES Doc Bazaar Recommends category. These films, which are either completed or in the final stages of post-production, are seeking opportunities for sales, distribution and exhibition.
The selected projects are:
- By the Home — directed by Mankap Nokwoham
- Do Chaar Din — directed by Saanya Anand
- Eche — directed by Dingku Thingnam
- Rasanishpathi — directed by Harish K. M.
- Rise — directed by Arastu Zakia
- The Girl Beneath The Sun — directed by Madhurima Maiti
- Turu — directed by Rameshwar Bhatt
- Tukro Tukro Prithibi — directed by Asmita Pal
All 12 selected projects will participate in an Open Pitch Session on June 16, the opening day of the Bazaar. The session will provide filmmakers an opportunity to present their projects before buyers, distributors, broadcasters, festival representatives and other industry stakeholders, helping them build partnerships and explore market opportunities.
Another key feature of the event is the Viewing Room, a digital library platform that enables filmmakers to showcase their work to industry professionals. This year’s Viewing Room will host all 155 submitted projects, offering buyers, broadcasters, distributors and festival programmers access to a diverse collection of documentary content from around the world.
NFDC said the selected projects represent the diversity and creative strength of contemporary documentary filmmaking while reinforcing its commitment to supporting emerging voices and connecting filmmakers with global audiences and markets.
