The second edition of WAVES Doc Bazaar concluded successfully at the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026, serving as a platform for documentary filmmakers to connect with mentors, producers, distributors, broadcasters, and industry professionals globally. The three-day event facilitated project pitches, networking sessions, and industry interactions, providing selected filmmakers with opportunities to seek support for development, post-production, and distribution of their projects.
Several awards were presented to support promising documentary projects. Prasad Labs Awards, presented by General Manager Nitin Pingle, offered post-production support including free 4K Digital Intermediate services for up to 50 hours at Prasad Labs, Chennai. Winners included 'On a Good Note' by director Karishma Rao and producer Vishwesh S. Prasad, and 'It Takes A Village' by director Indrajeet More and editor Akanksha Kalhe.
The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) Post-Production Awards, presented by Director (Academics) Satish Narayanan, provided a 50% discount on 50 hours of 4K DI services. Recipients were 'Adieu Dilli' by directors Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl, and 'Do Chaar Din' by director Saanya Anand and producer Navya Bajaj.
Reborn India Films Distribution Award, presented by Rahul Agarwal and Rohit Agarwal, supports selected projects with distribution opportunities including theatrical release across 10 screens with distribution support valued at ₹7 lakh, awarded to 'On a Good Note'.
For the first time, NFDC instituted three cash grants of ₹1 lakh each for documentary and short film projects, presented by Managing Director Prakash Magdum. Recipients were 'Kunchok and His Many Moons' by director and editor Ashok Meena, 'The Girl Beneath The Sun' by director Madhurima Maiti, and 'Tukro Tukro Prithbi' by director Asmita Pal and producer Arunima Chowdhury.
The event received 155 submissions from 19 countries in 35 languages, with 12 projects selected for pitching and market activities. Over 100 business-to-business meetings were held, creating opportunities for co-productions, funding, and distribution partnerships. Prakash Magdum noted the strong response reflects growing demand for dedicated documentary platforms and assured NFDC's continued support for emerging voices in non-fiction cinema.