Movies
Film Bazaar 2024 announces official selection for Work-in-Progress Lab
Mumbai: The official selection of films for the Work-in-Progress Lab at Film Bazaar 2024 has been announced. This year, the lab will feature both online and offline sessions, allowing filmmakers and mentors to collaborate in real time on achieving post-production support.
The selection includes six notable fiction films, with five being debut features from emerging filmmakers. These films present diverse narratives and cultural perspectives, showcasing IFFI’s commitment to focusing on young filmmakers and their innovative storytelling.
The majority of the works in progress (WIP) projects are led by debut filmmakers, emphasizing the initiative’s support for new talent in the industry. This effort not only nurtures creativity but also invites audiences to connect with stories reflecting contemporary life through a new generation of artists. Film Bazaar is at the forefront of celebrating these emerging voices.
The selected films are:
. Shape of Momos by Tribeny Rai (Nepali)
. Gaangshalik (Gaangshalik – River Bird) by Shakteedhar Bir (Bengali)
. Yerra Mandaram (The Red Hibiscus) by Mohan Kumar Valasala (Telugu)
. Kaatti Ri Raatti (Hunters Moon) by Ridham Janve (Gaddi, Nepali)
. Umal by Siddharth Badi (Marathi)
. The Good The Bad The Hungry by Vivek Kumar (Hindi)
The Work-in-Progress Lab focuses on fiction features intended for theatrical release, selecting a maximum of six films each year. Directors and editors of the selected films will present their rough cuts to a panel of esteemed mentors for valuable feedback. Recognized editors will guide the filmmakers through editing sessions, enhancing their craft. The diverse mentors include film festival directors, critics, producers, and experienced editors committed to helping filmmakers achieve a polished final cut.
Since its inception in 2008, the Work-in-Progress Lab has significantly shaped films that have premiered at prestigious international film festivals. Notable past projects include Putul Nacher Itikatha (WIP Lab 2023), Shivamma (WIP Lab 2021, Busan 2022 winner), Ek Jagah Apni (WIP Lab 2021), Powai (WIP Lab 2020), Paka (River of Blood) (WIP Lab 2020), and Fire in the Mountains (WIP Lab 2019).
The anticipation is high for the creativity and passion of this year’s selected filmmakers as they work toward completing their feature film projects.
Hindi
ZEE5, Applause announce new film Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa
Rajat Kapoor’s dark comedy thriller to stream on ZEE5 from April 10
MUMBAI: ZEE5 and Applause Entertainment have announced their next direct-to-digital collaboration, Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a darkly comic whodunnit set to stream from April 10.
Produced in association with Mithya Talkies and written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, the film marks the latest addition to a growing slate of genre-diverse titles from the two partners. Their previous collaborations include dramas, psychological thrillers and dark comedies, with this outing leaning into a layered murder mystery.
The film features an ensemble cast including Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waluscha De Sousa and Saurabh Shukla, among others. The narrative promises a mix of satire, strained relationships and hidden tensions, inviting viewers to look beyond the crime to the dynamics that lead up to it.
ZEE5 business head hindi and chief channel officer Andtv Kaveri Das said, “Our collaboration with Applause Entertainment has been instrumental in building a strong slate with titles such as Bloody Brothers, Mithya and Jab Khuli Kitaab. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a natural progression, aligning with our focus on genre-led content that resonates with audiences.”
Applause Entertainment business head movies Sunil Chainani said, “This collaboration with ZEE5 continues to stand out for its diversity of genres and narrative styles. Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa adds a sharp, darkly comic whodunnit to that mix, driven by Rajat Kapoor’s distinct voice.”
Sharing his creative approach, Rajat Kapoor said he was drawn to the emotional layers behind the genre. “I was interested not just in the mechanics of a whodunnit, but the emotional violence that precedes physical violence. These are people who appear close, yet carry unspoken tensions that eventually surface.”
The partnership between ZEE5 and Applause continues to build on a shared focus on distinctive storytelling, with each project exploring a different tone and genre.
With its mix of humour, tension and ensemble storytelling, the film aims to offer more than just a mystery. It promises a closer look at the secrets people keep, and the consequences when they finally come to light.
