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.
