Mumbai: The inaugural edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) wrapped up with remarkable success in Mumbai, marking a pivotal moment for India’s media and entertainment sector. Among its standout achievements was WAVES Bazaar, the summit’s premier business marketplace, which facilitated over ₹1,328 crore in transactions across film, music, radio, VFX, and animation industries.
WAVES Bazaar proved to be a powerhouse for international business collaborations. Of the total business generated, ₹971 crore came from B2B meetings held during the event, which saw over 3,000 strategic interactions.
Key global announcements included a proposed Indian Film Festival in New Zealand through a collaboration between Film India Screen Collective and Screen Canterbury NZ, and MoU discussions between India’s Only Much Louder and Russia’s Gazprom Media for cross-cultural festivals and co-productions.
Prime Video and Korea’s CJ ENM also announced a multi-year strategic partnership to distribute premium Korean content globally.
Adding to the momentum, the Government of Maharashtra signed MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore. This includes partnerships with the University of York and University of Western Australia (₹1,500 crore each), and industry giants Prime Focus (₹3,000 crore) and Godrej (₹2,000 crore), further underscoring the state’s commitment to the M&E sector.
WAVES Bazaar Powerhouse
In parallel, WAVEX Accelerator, a dedicated startup platform, spotlighted 30 media and entertainment startups with ₹50 crore worth of investment discussions initiated.
With more than 100 startups showcasing innovations to a panel of 45 leading investors, WAVEX laid the foundation for a thriving ecosystem for early-stage ventures. Plans are also underway to build a national network of M&E incubators.
WAVES 2025 concluded with the adoption of the WAVES Declaration by 77 participating countries, affirming India’s position as a global hub for creative innovation, investment, and collaboration.
