The inaugural edition of the WAVES - International Animation Filmmakers Competition (AFC) has emerged as a groundbreaking initiative, offering a global platform for creators across animation, VFX, AR-VR, and virtual production. 

Animation Filmmakers Competition - "WAVES ORIGINALS”

Launched on September 8, 2024, as part of the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), the competition has captivated participants and industry leaders alike, solidifying its reputation as a leading destination for creative storytelling and technological innovation.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has partnered with Dancing Atoms for Animation Filmmakers Competition, the flagship event of the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES). This marks a historic collaboration, paving the way for a new era in India’s creative industry and heralding the beginning of Create in India Season 1.

Overwhelming participation

Since its launch, AFC has received overwhelming participation, with over 1,200 registrations and over 400 creative submissions from more than 15 countries.

Crafting Pathways for Creative Excellence and Opportunity

The true essence of this initiative is to empower participants by giving them exposure and the wings to bring their stories to life. AFC has created an ecosystem where creativity meets opportunity, enabling storytellers to craft compelling narratives and transform their visions into reality. 

This is achieved through:

1. Online Masterclasses: Led by renowned industry experts like Pilar Alessandra, Sergio Pablos, and Saraswathi Buyyala.
2. In-Person and Hybrid Workshops: Conducted at premier institutions across India, covering essential skills such as creative pitching, personal development, effective networking, and understanding the evolving creative economy. In recent months, Saraswathi Buyyala, Writer, Creative Director, and Founder of Dancing Atoms, conducted storytelling sessions for students and professionals at premier institutions like IIT Hyderabad, JNAFAU Hyderabad, IIT Mumbai, IIMC Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi, and NFDC Mumbai. These sessions covered essential skills such as creative pitching, personal development, effective networking, and understanding the evolving creative economy. 

Hybrid events featured interactive workshops where participants learned how to navigate the global animation landscape, pitch their ideas confidently and explore transmedia storytelling — transforming stories into toys, games, comic books, and more. These initiatives underscore AFC's commitment to nurturing well-rounded creators who can thrive across multiple entertainment formats.

1. Global Presence and Unparalleled Networking Opportunities: AFC’s active participation in prestigious events, both domestically and internationally, has further amplified its mission and provided invaluable networking opportunities for participants. . In India, AFC made its presence felt at Mela Mela in Delhi, Comic Con Hyderabad, the VFX Summit, IGDC, Cinematica, AGIF in Mumbai, and IFFI Goa. 

On the global stage, AFC showcased its vision at the Writers Retreat and Producers Workshop in Spain, Lightbox Expo in Pasadena, Animation World Summit in Los Angeles, Unreal Fest 2024 in Seattle, Siggraph 2024 in Denver, the Ottawa International Film Festival 2024 in Canada, and MIPCOM & MIP.JR 2024 in Cannes. These events and roadshows led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in Los Angeles and San Francisco have positioned AFC as a pivotal initiative within the global media ecosystem.

Selection of Top Creators for WAVES Summit 2025

As the competition advances to Round 2, AFC proudly announces the selection of over 75 shortlisted candidates. These top storytellers will be further shortlisted and invited by the MIB to attend the physical WAVES Summit 2025.

All selected creators will gain access to an exclusive series of masterclasses featuring some of the world’s most renowned industry figures, including:

• Peter Ramsey, Oscar-winning director
• Guneet Monga, Oscar-winning producer
• Shobu Yarlagadda, visionary producer of the Baahubali movies
• Arnau Olle Lopez, Director of Character Animation from Skydance Animation Studios
• Kris Pearn, director of acclaimed animated films
• Anu Singh Chaudhary, celebrated writer and many more.

This phase aims to equip participants with invaluable insights and tools to refine and pitch their projects at the highly anticipated WAVES Summit 2025.

From IDEA to IMPACT – Bridging the Gap

Winners of the competition will present their creative concepts to top producers and leading OTT platforms in India and internationally. With the MIB team aggressively bridging the gap from IDEA to IMPACT and IDEA to INVESTMENT, AFC is creating unparalleled opportunities for creators to collaborate with global entertainment giants.

Empowering Women and Promoting Diversity

Dancing Atoms, led by Saraswathi Buyyala, has been at the forefront of promoting diversity and empowering women in the animation and AVGC sectors. Through targeted initiatives, the studio has supported women creators, providing them with platforms to showcase their talents and contribute meaningfully to the industry. The WAVES AFC competition proudly features numerous talented women participants whose creative works are reshaping storytelling norms.

By Dharmendra Tewari/Kshitij Singha