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Tasveer Film Market launches over 40 projects to amplify South Asian voices globally
Mumbai: The inaugural edition of the Tasveer Film Market, a new groundbreaking initiative under the prestigious 19th Tasveer Film Festival, is set to make waves by showcasing an exciting array of meticulously curated 40 South Asian and diaspora projects, handpicked from over 300 submissions across India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia. It will bring to the forefront some of the region’s most talented filmmakers and producers, providing them a unique platform to present their work, geared towards creating a global footprint. Notable names including Sarvnik Kaur (Against the Tide), Radhika Apte (Sleepwalkers), Hania Chima (Laal Kabootar), Amole Gupte (Stanley Ka Dabba), Nabeel Qureshi (Na Maloom Afraad), among others, will present their projects at TFM. The market is also set to include the feature film adaptation of Soniah Kamal’s novel Unmarriageable, a project led by Sadia Ashraf and James McMillan, whose credits as a cinematographer include Avengers: Endgame and A Quiet Place: Part One, among others.
A business will open at the market with the presentation of the 20 Tasveer Film Market Jury Select Projects. The Jury Select projects will be showcased and presented to leading studio executives, producers, DEI executives, and other key industry figures to forge partnerships and, in certain cases, facilitate funding. The Tasveer Film Market’s esteemed jury features notable figures from the entertainment world, including Dominique Welinski (Producer & Curator, Director’s Factory, Directors’ Fortnight – Cannes), Falguni Adams (Former Network Executive Producer, Vice Media), Shobha Sant (CEO, Creativeland Studios), Hemal Trivedi (Oscar & Emmy-winning filmmaker), and Swati Shetty (Founder, Bridge7).
The Project Catalog will also feature 20 Tasveer Film Market Select projects that reflect diverse voices from across South Asia and the diaspora, along with an Out-of-Competition section of 20 Finished Films. These include key titles like Pooja Kaul’s The Umesh Chronicles, Suman Ghosh’s The Ancient, and Miriam Chandy Menacherry’s much-talked-about From the Shadows.
The Tasveer Film Market will also host the final pitching session of the 5th Tasveer Film Fund, supported by Netflix. Nine finalists, out of a total of 200 submissions with under-development Narrative Shorts, will compete for the $25,000 grant, which will be awarded to three winning pitches.
In addition to project pitches, the Tasveer Film Market includes keynote speeches, fireside chats, and panel discussions, providing attendees with an opportunity to engage with key industry figures. Among those attending are industry leaders such as award-winning filmmaker Pan Nalin, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Deepa Mehta, and executives from Blumhouse, Amazon MGM Studios, EST N8, Creativeland Studios, HBO, WME, CAA, One Community, Pillars Fund, and others. Furthermore, the festival and market have also partnered with leading organizations like NBCU, K&L Gates, and Washington Filmworks to support this growing platform. With a clear focus on elevating South Asian and diaspora content, the Tasveer Film Market aims to become a key player in the international film landscape.
Tasveer Film Market founder and director Rita Meher expressed her enthusiasm: “A film market focused on South Asian cinema has been a long time coming. We’ve elevated the Tasveer Film Festival to new heights, making it the only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival in the world. Now, through the Tasveer Film Market, our vision is for these filmmakers to secure financing, access vital resources, engage directly with industry leaders, and gain distribution. It’s time for South Asian stories to transcend borders and be celebrated on the global stage.”
“Our goal is to create a platform where South Asian and diaspora filmmakers can connect with the global industry, particularly in North America, where diverse voices are being amplified more than ever. We believe the Tasveer Film Market will become a vital stepping stone for these unique voices to gain the attention they truly deserve and for the ecosystem to incorporate and nurture more representation of South Asia, the diaspora, and their concerns. Being in Seattle, we will also bring a boom to the creative economy of the region,” added Tasveer Film Market advisor & associate director Anupama Bose.
The 19th Tasveer Film Festival, where the market is hosted, will also showcase over 100 films, including feature films, shorts, and documentaries. The festival has established itself as a hub for cultural exchange and artistic collaboration, offering a vital platform for South Asian storytelling to flourish on the global stage.
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Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
