Women in Film (WIF) India has unveiled the six filmmakers selected for the country’s women-led delegation to the Toronto Film Festival, following a nationwide competition that drew more than 200 applications in just one week.
The winners, chosen through a rigorous selection process overseen by an international jury, represent diverse voices from across India’s film industries. The selected projects and filmmakers are: Arshaly Jose (“A Dandelion’s Dream”), Deepa Bhatia (“Rabbit Hole”), Katyayani Kumar (“Sons of The River”), Madhumita Sundararaman (“The Guest House”), Paromita Dhar (“Ulta”) and Pramati Anand (“A Late Autumn Dream”).
The initiative, part of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s WAVES Bazaar platform and facilitated by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), marks the first time Indian women filmmakers will collectively represent the country’s cinematic landscape at TIFF.
Applications flooded in from across India’s diverse film sectors, spanning states including Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Chandigarh. From 23 shortlisted projects, the final six were selected by an international jury comprising producers, cultural leaders and industry experts with experience spanning Academy Award-winning films and global film markets.
The Ministry-backed program is designed to bridge representation gaps while creating long-term pathways for Indian women filmmakers to access global collaborations, funding and distribution opportunities. Participants will receive international visibility, mentorship, curated networking and pitching training during the festival.
The delegation will be coordinated with U.S. creative strategy firm Product of Culture, which previously partnered with WIF India for its Cannes showcase. Continued mentorship will be provided by WIF India, WIF LA, Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor and the selection jury to ensure sustained global visibility for India’s women storytellers.
The program reflects the Indian government’s commitment to promoting women’s leadership in cinema as part of broader policy objectives around female empowerment. It builds on WIF India’s debut international presence at the Cannes Film Festival in May, establishing the organization as a key advocate for women’s representation in Indian cinema on the global stage.