Shillong, April 28: As the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 approaches, a special media interaction (Varta) was organized today by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Shillong in collaboration with the Shillong Press Club.

The event brought together key voices from the media and entertainment sector to discuss the exciting opportunities and innovations WAVES promises for Indian content creators at a global level.

The session began with a welcome address by Gopajit Das, Assistant Director of PIB Shillong, who introduced the vision behind WAVES, emphasizing its role in promoting India as a global hub for content creation, investment, and outreach under the ‘Create in India’ initiative. Das highlighted the significance of the summit in showcasing India’s creative potential on the world stage.

Ibankyntiew Mawrie, a senior media professional and Executive Member of the Shillong Press Club, also addressed the gathering, stressing the transformative potential of WAVES. “WAVES offers a tremendous platform for Indian creators to connect globally and showcase our rich storytelling traditions. It brings together professionals, creators, investors, and tech visionaries onto a single platform to collaborate, share ideas, and forge new partnerships,” Mawrie said. She elaborated on the key elements of WAVES, including the ‘Create in India Challenge’, the WAVES Bazaar for product marketing, live concerts featuring national and international artists, and interactive sessions with key policymakers in the media and entertainment industry.

Content creator Ferdinand Rani, also known as Code Freeman, shared his perspective on the evolving media landscape. “The lines between traditional media and social media are increasingly blurred. WAVES 2025 aims to shatter these boundaries, bringing people from every corner of the industry onto a common platform. For creators like us in Meghalaya, WAVES provides not just visibility but a real opportunity to turn our passion into sustainable livelihoods by connecting directly with investors and the global market,” Rani said.

Actor and content creator Dawan Kharkongor, who is attending WAVES 2025 in Mumbai as a representative from Meghalaya, emphasized the importance of regional narratives in the global media industry. “WAVES will help amplify our local stories, languages, and cultures onto the world stage. As someone who once struggled due to lack of accessibility and networking, being part of WAVES today to represent Meghalaya feels like a major breakthrough. It is a bridge for the Northeast to connect with mainstream media industries,” Kharkongor remarked.

Aafaque Hussain, Staff Reporter from The Shillong Times and Executive Member of the Shillong Press Club, added, “We are all content creators in today’s world. Social media has become a powerful tool for creators to showcase talent and build livelihoods. WAVES will help our youth take content creation more seriously and open doors to investment, collaboration, and industry exposure. This summit is not just about networking but about placing India firmly at the forefront of the global media and entertainment industry.”

Hussain is one of the North East journalists attending WAVES 2025 as part of the Press Tour conducted by PIB.

The Varta session served as a platform for dialogue among stakeholders and content creators, setting a positive tone ahead of the upcoming WAVES summit. The event also highlighted the impressive achievements of two young creators from Meghalaya, who will be representing the state on the global stage.

Mark Ryan Syiemlieh, a 22-year-old from Lummawbah, Upper Shillong, has secured a spot in the Top 10 of ‘Resonate: The EDM Challenge’. He will showcase his original sound at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai. Additionally, Khambor Batei Kharjana has been selected as one of the Top 42 finalists at the Animation Film Makers Competition (AFC) for his project “Lapalang: A Khasi Folklore Reimagined”, as part of the Create in India Challenge Season-1.

WAVES 2025 is set to bring together industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and creators from across the world to foster collaboration, trade opportunities, and new pathways for the future of media and entertainment. The event, scheduled for May 1-4, 2025, in Mumbai, promises to be a milestone for Indian content creators seeking global recognition.

Also Read: Meghalaya taps World Bank for $300 million transport and logistics boost

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