Northeast Filmmakers at WAVES 2025 Call for OTT and Policy Reforms

Agartala: At the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai, Northeast India’s leading cinematic voices called for urgent reforms to help the region’s vibrant but under-supported film industry find a national and global audience.

Prominent filmmakers and actors from Northeast India came together on Thursday for a high-profile panel discussion on the “Challenges and Prospects of Cinema in Northeast India” at WAVES 2025, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. The session highlighted the region’s creative potential while drawing attention to the structural and economic barriers that continue to hinder its growth.

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Veteran filmmaker Jahnu Barua described the Northeast as “a reservoir of talent,” pointing to the region’s deep cultural roots and the untapped stories waiting to be told. “The future of Northeast cinema is very bright, with many young talents emerging,” he said.

The lack of digital platforms and distribution networks was a recurring concern throughout the discussion. Actor Jatin Bora stressed the need for Assam and other Northeastern states to have access to dedicated OTT platforms. “Assam needs OTT platforms to better market its films,” he said, calling on both state and central governments to create long-term policies to support regional cinema. “Without a robust distribution network, even the best films struggle to cross state lines,” he added.

Actor Ravi Sarma emphasized the importance of systemic investment, noting that financial and marketing infrastructure are essential for any regional film industry to grow. “The Northeast holds millions of beautiful and unique stories,” he said, “but we need the means to tell them.”

Aimee Baruah, who has also worked as a director, underlined cinema’s role in preserving the region’s linguistic diversity. “Our languages carry centuries of oral history. Film is a powerful medium to protect and promote them,” she said.

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Filmmakers Haobam Paban Kumar and Dominic Sangma spoke about the challenges of grassroots filmmaking, including the lack of formal support systems for emerging creators. They stressed that despite the odds, storytellers from the region continue to produce powerful narratives rooted in local culture.

The session ended with a call for coordinated efforts between government bodies, private investors, and national studios to strengthen the Northeast’s film ecosystem. Panellists urged stakeholders to back regional filmmakers through policy support, digital access, and collaborative platforms that can help them break through traditional market barriers.

(With inputs from PIB)