The 42 finalists of the Animation Film Makers Competition (AFC), held as part of the ‘Create in India Challenge Season-1’ of World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025, were declared in the second week of April. Dancing Atoms Studios, which collaborated with the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in organizing the national level challenge since its inception, has brought out a comprehensive creative catalogue on the best 42 projects to be showcased in the WAVE Summit to be held in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025. This unique initiative aims to connect talented creators with like-minded individuals, producers, and distributors, fostering collaborations between creators and the industry that transcend geographical boundaries.
These best 42 projects that came up from after a rigorous nine-month evaluation process of the competition, have shown a focus on original storytelling across the entire spectrum of animation, encompassing traditional animation, VFX, Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR), and virtual production. The creative catalogue features a diverse range of innovative projects, including – 12 feature films, 18 short films, TV Series: 9 TV/Limited Series and 3 AR/VR experiences. All 42 shortlisted film projects will be showcased to industry stakeholders through this unique initiative.
The shortlisted 18 short animation film creators and their projects are as follows:
1) Shreya Sachdev – Vani
2) Shrikant S Menon – Odiyan
3) Prasanth Kumar Nagadasi – Best Friends
4) Shweta Subhash Marathe – MELTING SHAME
5) Anika Rajesh – Achappam
6) Martand Anand Ugalmugle – Chandomama
7) Kiruthika Ramasubramanian – A Dream’s Dream
8) Harish Narayan Iyer – KARABI
9) Triparna Maiti – The Chair
10) Arundhati Sarkar – So close yet so far,
11) Gadam Jagadish Prasad Yadav – Symphony of Darkness
12) Vetrivel – The Last Treasure
13) Gargi Gawthe – Godva
14) Shreeyaa Vinayak Pore – Kali (Bud)
15) Harshita Das – Luna
16) Sandhra Mary – MISSING
17) Richa Bhutani – Climatescape
18) Hirak Jyoti Nath – Tales From The Tea House
The 12 finalists of animation feature films creators and their projects are:
1) Catharina Dian Wiraswati S – Fly!
2) Shubham Tomar – Mahzun
3) Srikanth bhogi – Rudhra
4) Anirban Majumder- BABAR AUR BANNO – A friendship saga
5) Nandan Balakrishnan – The Dream Balloon
6) Jacqueline C Ching – Lykke and the Trolls
7) Rohit Sankhla – Dwarka The Lost City of Shree Krishna
8) Bhagat Singh Saini – RED WOMAN
9) Abhijeet Saxena – Arise, Awake
10) Vamsi Bandaru – Ayurveda Chronicles – Search for the Lost Light
11) Piyush Kumar – Wrong programming..the unleashed wars of ai.
12) Khambor Batei – Kharjana – Lapalang – A Khasi Folklore Reimagined
The 9 shortlisted animation TV/Limited Series creators and their projects are:
1) Jyothi Kalyan Sura – Jackie & Jilal
2) Tuhin Chanda – Chupi : Silence behind laws
3) Kishore Kumar Kedari – Age of the Deccan: The Legend of Malik Ambar
4) Bhagyashree Satapathy – Pāśa
5) Rishav Mohanty – Khatti
6) Sukankan Roy – Sound of Joy
7) Atreyee Poddar, Sangeeta Poddar and Bimal Poddar – MORAY KAKA
8) Prasenjit Singha – The Quiet Chaos
9) Segun Samson,Omotunde Akiode – Maapu.
The 3 AR/VR experience creators and their projects are:
1) Sundar Mahalingam – Ashvamedha – The Unsealed Fate
2) Anuj kumar Choudhary – Liminalism
3) Isha Chandna – Toxic Effect Of Substance Abuse On Human Body.
For the first time, bringing all 42 projects together in one creative catalogue is a testament to the sheer talent we have discovered, stated Saraswathi Buyyala, Founder and CEO of Dancing Atims Studios. The Waves Advisory Board, comprising industry veterans and influential figures in media and entertainment, will play a crucial role in evaluating the potential of these projects and guiding them towards production and distribution, she added. Ms. Buyyala also informed, the global revenue generated by these dynamic verticals underscores the immense potential within the animation industry. In 2024, the global animation market witnessed substantial growth. Short Films contributed an estimated $20 billion in revenue through various platforms including online streaming, festivals, while educational content is projected to reach $70 billion USD by 2032. Feature Films, which represents the largest segment, generated approximately $30 billion USD to $32.3 billion USD at the global box office and through ancillary markets. Animation TV Series experienced a boom driven by streaming services, accounting for around $512 billion USD in production and licensing revenue. AR/VR and immersive entertainment market, including AR/VR animation is a burgeoning sector. It reached an estimated USD 22.12 billion and USD 79.36 billion, with significant growth projections. AR/VR technologies are transforming sectors including gaming, healthcare, retail, education, and manufacturing, fueled by demand for immersive experiences and substantial investment. While North America holds a significant share, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated for the fastest growth, she added.
