Hindi
Mumbai Film Mart gets bigger, better
MUMBAI: Book your dates from 18-20 October. It is time for Mumbaikars to get ready for the third edition of the Mumbai Film Mart (MFM) to be held at Taj President. The festival that facilitates Indian films to reach international audiences promises to be bigger and better than its previous avatars.
The festival is expected to grow from its 1,200 meetings last year and 400 in its first edition. These meetings, between Indian producers and buyers and distributors from several international markets have been fruitful for both parties, with Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Hong Kong, Poland, Germany, France, Sweden and even South Korea bagging valuable deals.
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Owing to its valuable contribution in facilitating the sale of Indian films among these countries, MFM has also garnered the support of top Indian production houses such as Yash Raj Films, Disney UTV, Eros International, Reliance Entertainment, AKFPL and Balaji Motion Pictures.
That said MFM is also an active platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their work alongside big banner Bollywood films.
Apart from the repeat participation from its earlier breakthrough markets, MFM has confirmed attendance of new buyers and broadcasters such as Astro (Malaysia), MBC (UAE), Shoreline Entertainment (USA), Happiness Distribution and Aanna Films (France), international film services providers such as 3D Alliance (France) and KFTV (UK) and key International exhibitors such as the VOX chain of cinemas operating across the Middle East.
MFM 2013 will continue to expand the scope of the business of cinema with a focus on new technologies such as 3D, new distribution models for independent films, Books2Screen to encourage film adaptations, India Project Room for pre-selection of work-in-progress films and Filmy Room an exclusive DVD viewing library.
This year, MFM will grow its scope manifold by hosting pre-scheduled meetings, on-the-spot networking through speed dating, informal meetings during happy hours, themed round table meetings and greater visibility for select participants through SPOTS.
Hindi
Government backs film production through DCDFC, co-production push
Scheme funds cinema, WAVES 2025 boosts global ties and industry growth.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… policy action. As India’s screens glow brighter at home and abroad, the government is quietly scripting a bigger role behind the scenes funding films, fuelling collaborations and nudging the country closer to its “create for the world” ambition. At the centre of this effort is the Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) scheme, a 100 per cent centrally funded initiative designed to support film production across the country. Through this scheme, the government provides direct financial backing to projects, aiming to strengthen both mainstream and alternative storytelling ecosystems while encouraging cinematic excellence.
The implementation runs through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which plays a key role in facilitating film production, including regional cinema and documentaries. Beyond the screen, the scheme also feeds into the broader economy creating jobs for local technicians, artists and service providers, and strengthening grassroots production networks across states.
The push, however, is not limited to funding alone. India’s ambition to position itself as a global content powerhouse was on display at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 held in Mumbai, which brought together creators, producers, startups and global stakeholders from over 100 countries. The summit acted as a convergence point for Indian storytelling and international capital, with OTT platforms, investors and technology leaders exploring partnerships in a rapidly evolving content economy.
Complementing this is the government’s focus on audio-visual co-production agreements, which effectively operate on a public-private partnership model. By enabling Indian and international producers to collaborate, these agreements are designed to bring in investment, global expertise and advanced filmmaking practices while also giving Indian stories a wider global footprint.
Support also extends to film culture and preservation. Grants are provided for domestic film festivals recommended by state governments, alongside curated film packages, masterclasses and workshops to nurture talent and audience engagement. The NFDC further collaborates with State Film Development Corporations, offering technical expertise across the filmmaking value chain and supporting the preservation of local film heritage.
Many states, in parallel, are encouraging the development of film infrastructure including production studios often through public-private partnership models, signalling a coordinated push to build a more robust audiovisual ecosystem.
The update was shared in Parliament by Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a query from Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan, outlining a multi-layered approach that blends funding, infrastructure, policy and global outreach.
Taken together, the message is clear: India is not just telling more stories, it is building the machinery to tell them bigger, better and to the world.
