Meghalaya’s Khambor Batei Kharjana named finalist at WAVES 2025 Animation Challenge

Shillong , April 21 : Khambor Batei Kharjana from Meghalaya has been named one of the top 42 finalists at the prestigious WAVES 2025 Animation Film Makers Challenge. His project – Lapalang: A Khasi Folklore Reimagined – was selected as part of the ‘Create in India Challenge Season-1’.

Organised under the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), the Animation Film Makers Competition (AFC) received an overwhelming 419 entries from across the globe. The final 42 were selected after a rigorous nine-month evaluation process, which included expert mentorship and training sessions from leading national and international professionals.

“This has been an amazing journey. The masterclasses alone were priceless,” said Kharjana. “It’s a big step forward for animation in India and I thank Jesus Christ for this opportunity.”

Finalists will pitch their original projects during the WAVES Summit, set to be held in Mumbai from May 1 to 4. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of up to Rs 5 lakh.

The competition spans various formats including traditional animation, VFX, AR/VR, and virtual production. The 42 selected projects include 12 feature films, 9 TV series, 18 short films, and 3 AR/VR experiences. These projects will be pitched to major OTT platforms, distributors, and potential global collaborators. Efforts are also underway to enable international co-productions through partnerships with embassies from 17 countries.

AFC WAVES 2025 is supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and led by Dancing Atoms Studios. The initiative not only spotlights emerging talent but also aims to create significant employment opportunities, with each project potentially engaging 100–300 professionals.

The summit reflects India’s growing strength in content creation and creative storytelling across the media and entertainment industry.

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