Aashish graduated in Painting from Govt Fine Arts College, Indore in 2003 and went on to specialise in Animation from ZICA in 2006. Since then he has worked as a Director, Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Animator on numerous projects.

His animated short films Saraswati, Common Story, Travel to Moon and Channel V Shorts were screened at festivals around the world and won awards including Unicef Short Film Award at Bangkok and Channel V Best Promo Award at Singapore.

His work has also been awarded at ANIFEST, FICCI, BAF and others. Before co-founding Paperboat Design Studios in 2011, Aashish worked at various creative positions in organisations such as Jadooworks, Anirights, Hurix Systems, Tata Elxsi and UTV Motion Pictures. He directed Bandbudh Aur Budbak for Zee TV, one of the most popular TV series in India in recent times. He was the Creative Producer on numerous episodes of Pakdam Pakdai for Nickelodeon and Sab Jholmaal Hai for Sony Yay. He is the Creative Director and Exec. Producer on Fukrey Boyzz.

Mrighdeep Singh Lamba is one of the brightest talents in the Indian film industry today and has spent close to almost two decades in the movie industry. His directorial venture, ‘Fukrey’ (2013), won millions of hearts across the country and was successful in attaining cult status as it scored well at both: box office & with the critics.

Mrig has a keen eye for spotting humour in any situation. Bubbling with fresh ideas and a fresh perspective towards stories, his next venture ‘Fukrey Returns’ released in December 2017 and received a great response from the audience and was declared a super hit at box office. Post the success of ‘Fukrey Returns,’ he ventured into production with films like ‘Khandani Shafakhana’ starring Sonakshi Sinha and Badshah in lead roles and ‘Roohi’ starring Jhanvi Kapoor, Raj kumar Rao and Varun Sharma. Alongside films, Mrig ventured into the OTT web space and created the show ‘Chutzpah’ for SonyLIV and is currently producing a show titled ‘Paan Parda Zarda’ for Jio Cinema.

Mrig's recent release ‘Fukrey 3’ released in September 2023, and made great news as it reached 100 crore plus worldwide and became the third consecutive hit in the successful Fukrey franchise.

Mrig is currently involved in developing films and web series, balancing the roles of writer, producer and director, his latest being a comedy film with Akshay Kumar, which goes on floors at the end of year 2024.

With over 23 years of Creative and Production experience in the VFX / 3D Conversion / CG industry, Parthasarathy began his craft and passion for storytelling as a 3D animator. Throughout the journey, he has contributed his expertise to renowned studios in the Media & Entertainment industry, elevating projects with his creative vision and technical prowess. Currently, associated with Company3 Method India Pvt. Ltd., Pune (SDFX Studios) as Director - Production, leading with a blend of strategic insight and hands-on experience, orchestrating Production Operations.

Priyanka (fondly known as Pri) is the Founder and Managing Director at Hoop, an independent, boutique visual effects studio headquartered in London with a growing production facility in Chennai and Mumbai, India. Hoop provides visual effects services for International and domestic high-end TV and feature film and OTT markets. Under Priyanka's leadership style which is one of pragmatic optimism, Hoop VFX has grown into a brand that is known to be ambitious, customer centric while punching above its weight and delivering high quality visuals.

With over 17 years in the industry now, Priyanka's first foray into the industry was back in 2007 as a data wrangler for VTR, a post-production studio based in London. She then went on to work for Mumbai based studios growing as a VFX producer over three years overseeing entire production teams, project schedules as well as designing pipeline and tools for multiple projects. Pri then moved to London in 2010 to continue her stint at the Soho visual effects scene and has produced end to end visual effects on various tentpole films and high-end TV drama such as Harry Potter, Kingsman, Tron, 47 Ronin, The Monuments Men, Total Recall, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Great Gatsby, Fate of the Furious, Guardians of the Galaxy, Alien Covenant and Avengers to name a few. As a member of the VES, Women in Film and TV and also the Production Guild in the UK, she contributes to the VFX community in more ways than one.

Pri strives hard to bring gender balance to the workplace and retain female talent within the industry through Hoop and other volunteering activities. While not at work Priyanka can be seen scooting with her children, singing classical music and cooking exotic dishes.

Bhanu Prakash is the VFX Supervisor at ReDefine India, which stands at the forefront of the VFX industry. With over a decade of immersive experience, his unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation is a testament to his remarkable journey.

Bhanu has left an indelible mark on the landscape of cinematic magic. His recent portfolio boasts an impressive array of projects, including the captivating worlds of "Knights of the Zodiac," the futuristic allure of "Gen V," the adrenaline-fueled adventure of "SpyKids Armageddon," the epic saga of "Halo" and "Fighter," among others.

Bhanu's expertise transcends mere technical prowess; it embodies a deep understanding of storytelling and visual narrative. With each project, he seamlessly merges art and technology, weaving a tapestry of imagination that captivates audiences and transports them to realms beyond the ordinary.

The son of celebrated theatre artist, actor and academician Padma Shri Prof. Ram Gopal Bajaj, Aseem Bajaj is a Filmfare Award-winning Indian cinematographer. He has helmed the camera department in around 30 feature films, besides working as an additional or assistant cinematographer in over 40 movies. Aseem`s most acclaimed work till date is Leena Yadav’s ‘Shabd’ (2005) starring Sanjay Dutt & Aishwarya Rai and Sudhir Mishra’s ‘Chameli’ (2003), which starred Kareena Kapoor and Rahul Bose in the lead roles. Besides a Filmfare Award and IIFA Award, the movie also won him the Swarovski Trophy for Best Cinematography at the Asian Festival of First Films, Singapore in 2005.

Notable among Aseem`s other works in recent times are the action films like Ajay Devgn's 'Bhola' (2023), Courtroom Drama ‘Runway 34’ (2022), war action film 'Bhuj' (2021), historical action 'Tanhaji', action thriller 'Shivaay' (2016), action comedy ‘Son of Sardaar’ (2012), ‘U me Aur Hum’ (2011) and ‘Teen Patti’ (2010).

Campaign Asia's Tech Person of the Year and serving on this year's Spikes Asia jury, for Innovation and Creative Data. John heads the Creative and Production team for Media.Monks, India, John has almost two decades of experience in the advertising industry, working both domestic and international arrays of projects for global brands. With numerous awards and accolades in India and internationally, his unconventional ways and practical approach have been integral in developing new and effective advertising strategies that operate on a global scale.

Over the last decade, Shruti Rajkumar has worked in all capacities of the content business. She has developed, anchored, and produced shows for sports & entertainment and has managed research, content, and programming acquisition strategy for the English general entertainment portfolio at Star and the infotainment portfolio at Sony.

In her current role at Invest India, she heads the Film Facilitation Office, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

The Film Facilitation Office works to create a single window to support filmmakers, both domestic and international to navigate shooting in India and availing the filming rebates.

Aashish Singh is a content producer who has had vast experience in content creation, production and monetisation. Aashish has recently stepped down as CEO of Lyca Productions to pursue his ambition of becoming an independent producer. He continues to consult multiple companies in the media space.

Prior to joining Lyca Productions he was leading Original Films at Netflix, India. He was earlier the CEO at Balaji Motion Pictures and Vice President - Production at Yash Raj Films. He has played an active role in many successful films like Chak De India, Dhoom 2, Dhoom 3, Tiger Zinda Hai, Rab Me Bana Di Jodi, Jab Tak Hain Jaan, Ek Tha Tiger, Band Baaja Baarat, Dream Girl, Ponniyin Selvan etc.

Aashish has more than 25 years of experience in the media and entertainment business. He is a film buff, born in a film family and to his credit has been responsible for shooting feature films in more than 35 countries. He also has executive produced the maximum number of Hindi films. He is a B.Com graduate and has been responsible in getting some of the best rebates and incentives for feature films in Hindi language.

Sreekumar Nair is an industry-renowned editor, colourist, trainer, and Apple Certified Pro, backed by 22 years of cinematic expertise and a remarkable portfolio of 56 feature films. Nair had the privilege of shaping the careers of over 2,500 students in the realm of film post-production.

As a tech and colour consultant, he has established Cinema Salone, Kochi's leading colour grading studio, and a sought-after training center. His passion extends to Cinema Salone, a dynamic tech channel exploring post-production technologies, unboxing, and reviewing film-related products.

Nair regularly conducts enlightening seminar sessions, sharing insights into the world of film post-production. Moreover, he has an insatiable love for films, reveling in their appreciation, analysis, and reviews.

Jagadeesh Bommisetti is an accomplished Virtual Cinematographer at Annapurna Studios, where he seamlessly navigates various facets of the filmmaking process. His expertise extends across critical stages such as previsualization (previs), techvis, and shot vis. In his pivotal role within the virtual production pipeline, Jagadeesh provides invaluable guidance to on-set directors, directors of photography (DOP), and production designers, ensuring the seamless integration of virtual production sequences.

Jagadeesh's proficiency extends to intricate technical aspects, showcasing a profound understanding of the craft. His involvement in 3D tracking, lens/camera calibration for 3D tracking systems, and adept management of the ICVFX (In-Camera Visual Effects) pipeline underscore his commitment to creating immersive and visually compelling cinematic experiences. This unique blend of technical prowess and creative acumen places him at the nexus of technology and cinematography, making a significant contribution to the burgeoning field of virtual production within the film industry.

Prior to his pioneering work in virtual production, Jagadeesh spent seven years honing his skills in the film industry. During this period, he served as an Associate Cinematographer and Operative Cinematographer, demonstrating his dedication to the craft. Notably, Jagadeesh assumed the role of Director of Photography (DOP) for three feature films in Telugu, showcasing his versatility and expertise in traditional filmmaking before seamlessly transitioning into the dynamic realm of virtual production.

Jagadeesh Bommisetti's journey reflects not only his technical prowess but also his deep passion for storytelling through cinematography. His diverse experiences in both traditional and virtual production underscore his versatility and dedication to pushing the boundaries of cinematic innovation.

Navin Shetty, an influential artist and entrepreneur who began his career in the 1990s at ADLABS Films Pvt. Ltd. Navin's journey in the realm of film and post-production is a testament to both artistic prowess and entrepreneurial acumen. From his early days as a skilled colorist to the establishment of three renowned post-production studios - Nube Studio, Nube Cirrus, and Ventana Studios - he has continuously pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

With a personal portfolio boasting over 10,000 commercials and a diverse array of films and episodic projects, Navin's expertise shines through in acclaimed works such as "Omkara," "Kaminay," "Force," "Kahaani 2," and "Badhaai Ho." His artist-driven studios have become hubs of international talent, attracting skilled professionals from various corners of the globe. Recently, the studio has contributed to numerous high-quality projects, including "The Goatlife," "The Railway Man," "Mumbai Saga," "Gehraiyaan," "Kota Factory," "Dahan," "An Action Hero," "Bambai Meri Jaan," "Kaala Paani," "Dasvi," "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen." and many more.

Not content with merely mastering his craft, Navin has expanded his influence into film production as the Producer and Managing Director of Fundamental Pictures Pvt. Ltd. Collaborating with industry luminaries like Shlok Sharma, Aarti Kadav, and Anurag Kashyap, he has spearheaded innovative Hindi films like "ZOO" and "CARGO," ‘ 2 SISTERS AND A HUSBAND & PRIVACY showcasing a commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.

By emphasising the seamless integration of post-production and pre-production processes, Navin ensures that every project under his purview achieves extraordinary results. His journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs, illustrating how passion, dedication, and vision can shape the future of Indian cinema.

An Unreal Authorised Instructor, current working as a Technical artist for real-time 3D development in the PC/VR space. Paul has spent the first 8 years of his career as a post production generalist, developing production pipeline and workflows. He progressively specialised in Visual effects and CG. From Ad films for Titan WE, Amazon, Ducati, Wildstone, BMW and so on, to creating 3D renders for ISRO and the Ministry of Earth Sciences Govt of India, he has had hands-on experience through the rungs of the a/v production pipeline.

Over time, he gravitated towards real-time 3D visualisation and application development. The last 6 years was spent navigating the Virtual Reality simulation and PC experience space and working with global brands like Nissan, Ford, UFC, while training professionals in Unreal Engine, the count surpassing thousands, as an UAI.

Rohit is a passionate IT professional with 20+ years of work experience with leading organizations like HCL Tech, HSBC, EMC, 3PAR, HPE, Hitachi Vantara (erstwhile Hitachi Data Systems) etc before joining Micron. Rohit completed his BE (ELTC) from ITM and regular MBA (Systems & Finance) from Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management, Pune. Rohit gained cross-domain experience working with companies into Bio-medical Instrumentation, IT Consulting, Govt, Life Insurance & IT OEMs (both SW/HW).

Rohit is a hands-on professional having delivered multiple projects across segments (consumer, client, Gaming, Enterprise, Industrial etc) and across product lines end to end, right from requirement gathering, ecosystem enablement, POC, ROI/TCO, benchmarks, implementation to support.

As an entrepreneur, Syed Haseeb boasts a strong background in innovation, highlighted by his role as the primary author of a recognised US patent (US20120143401A1), filed at the age of 20 under the mentorship of his college dean. From 2010 to 2018, Haseeb filed five additional patents across diverse areas including wireless networks, electromechanical systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), and vehicle fleet management.

In 2010, Haseeb co-founded Kerberon Automations Pvt. Ltd, a company in India's automated bicycle sharing technology sector. The company specialised in creating, engineering, and producing automated docking stations, enabling pre-registered users to lock and unlock bicycles using smart cards or a dedicated mobile app. Kerberon's secured partnerships with entities such as Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation and Bengaluru's municipal corporation - BBMP, along with collaborations with educational campuses like VTU Belgaum.

In 2016, Kerberon secured private equity investment from Signpost India Pvt. Ltd., a leader in Out of Home Advertising in India. Subsequently rebranded to ParXsys Moblit Systems Pvt. Ltd., the company won a 20-year contract to manage an Electric Bicycle Sharing scheme in Thane in 2017. Under Haseeb's leadership, ParXsys expanded its services to Naya Raipur and Davanagere through its Coo Rides brand, offering electric bicycle sharing for last-mile connectivity.

Following the acquisition of ParXsys Moblit Systems by Signpost India in 2021, Haseeb assumed the role of Chief Technology Officer at Signpost. His primary objective was to spearhead the transformation of the company's traditional advertising operations into a digitally-focused ad tech leader. Under his guidance, Signpost evolved into a trailblazer in digital Out Of Home Advertising, expanding its operations across nine Indian cities and internationally in Singapore, London, and Johannesburg.

Recognised as one of the youngest CXOs of a listed entity in India, Haseeb played a pivotal role in Signpost India's IPO in 2023. Today, he spends his time interacting with CMOs of leading companies, refining their marketing strategies with the right technology mix, further cementing Signpost's position as a major competitor in the advertising industry.

VolumX is a technology company powering 3D and immersive experiences. Possessing the most advance 3D scanning technologies such as the Lightstage, VolumX is creating hyper realistic digital avatars and environments for some of the biggest movies in India.

Siddhartha Jayakar is CEO and co-founder of Labyrinth Cinematic Solution, a full-service visual effects company with offices in Mumbai, and partners in LA, Canada And Europe. He has over 24 years of experience, and has been credited on over 120 TV shows and movies. Under his creative supervision, Labyrinth has produced VFX for over 500 commercials and 50 feature films.

Over the past 16 years, Jayakar has successfully cultivated a workforce ranging from 50 to 200 employees. He was the recipient of the 2005 Visual Effects Society (VES) Award for his work on the Dreamworks Miniseries and Into The West. He has an undergraduate degree in film-making from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

Anant Roongta is a 3rd generation entrepreneur and the managing director of India’s most iconic film studio; Famous Studios. Armed with a Master’s degree in International Business from Aston University, UK, Anant is every bit the visionary as his father and grand-father. It was J.B. Roongta, Anant’s grand-father who founded Famous in the year 1946, which was the only air-conditioned studio in Asia at the time. Arun Roongta, Anant’s father, went on to introduce a wide range of new age film-making and post-production technologies. By the time Anant joined Famous in 2018, the landmark studio had already evolved from an end-to-end services provider to the Mecca of film making and advertising.

Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Anant ushered big, bold changes at Famous such as setting up Famous Working Co., India’s first co-working space in a film studio and partnering with Netflix as their preferred post production partner. In a bid to provide a technologically advanced canvas for storytellers, Anant and his team launched a state-of-the-art post production studio in Andheri, Mumbai & Hyderabad specialising in long format and OTT content. He also paved the way for introducing new technologies such as visual engineering, motion capture, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos certified post-production facilities, virtual production and VFX. With a vision to make Famous a global leader and enabler of audio-visual craft and creative solutions, Anant is investing massively in talent, technology and infrastructure. In the past couple of years, he has been on some notable podcasts such as “Koffee Filter” and “Cyrus Says” and has spent his time interacting with students at well renowned universities such as Amity and ISDI.

An active member of the Entrepreneurs Organization, Mumbai chapter, the young businessman is a strong proponent of developing leadership qualities and is committed to honing the skillsets of his team, offering them various opportunities to grow and evolve. Literacy is another cause that is close to his heart and he is closely associated with the NGO; Friends of Tribals society. When he isn’t busy at the helm of affairs at Famous, Anant can be found enjoying a good movie, playing a sport or reading up on aviation and adding to his collection of airplanes.

Arjun Singgh Baran has co-founded production powerhouse GSEAMS with Kartk D Nishandar. With an expertise in both the practical and creative aspects of story-telling, he not only steers decisions about business and financing but also immerses himself in script mentoring to fine-tune ideas so that they can be effectively translated on the big and small screen. He has steered GSEAMS to become one of the top studios in Mumbai with a foothold in various business verticals, formats and genres, be it web-series, films, TV production or satellite aggregation. He is now also overseeing GSEAM's expansion in the Hindi speaking demographic with web shows like the recently released Sushmita Sen starrer 'Taali’ and con-man drama 'Rafuchakkar'.

'Rafuchakkar' was headlined by Maniesh Paul and went on to top the charts in JioCinema while 'Taali' which is based on transgender activist Shree Gauri Sawant's life has created a massive buzz.

He won Nationwide Award under 50 presented by Business mint. This winning streak of the duo began when GSEAMS produced its first web-series titled 'Samantar' for MX player directed by ace director Satish Rajwade and starring Swapnil Joshi, Nitish Bhardwaj and Tejasvini Pandit in the lead roles. The show has garnered more than 100 million views on MX Player. Other winners include shows like 'Raktanchal'-Season 2 (MX Player), 'Naxalbari' (Zee5) starring Rajiv Khandelwal as well as Marathi hit 'Nakalat Sare Ghadale' for Star Pravah which ran for more than 450 episodes. He has also backed Marathi hits like 'Mogra Phulaalaa', 'Ranangan','Tula Kalnnaar Nahi', 'Bhikari',' Vicky Velingkar', 'Bonus' and 'Bali'.

Over the last 15 years, Chris Jestico has worked at several major VFX vendors in London and Singapore, contributing to over 50+ productions at MPC, DNEG, Framestore, Passion Pictures and ILM. Chris has produced numerous Virtual Production projects ranging from virtual cinematography alongside Steven Speilberg on Ready Player One (2016) to realtime LED volume shoots on films such as The Midnight Sky (2020) and The Batman (2022).

Having worked as BgPrep, Compositor, Lead Compositor, Compositing Supervisor, Sequence Supervisor, and VFX Supervisor, Jateen has a deep-rooted understanding of the craft and is able to translate this into his role as a leader.

A veteran of 40 years in industry, Mr. Hoggarth developed his expertise with industry pillars like Link Electronics, Grass Valley Group; Abekas, Sony and latterly Omneon Video Networks, a pioneer of Online and Nearline storage. In 2008, he founded Disk Archive Corporation, to extend the benefits of non-linear storage to the Offline Archive and Data Preservation domain. domain. 15 years on, the ALTO Platform and a network of over 50 specialist Application Partners are together making archiving, easier, more secure and more affordable than ever before, serving the needs of an ever expanding range of data preservation markets, including National Film Archives, Media Cities, High Courts for Evidence Preservation, Biomedical Image Preservation, Surveillance and Security in Smart Cities and large scale IT Backup, preserving crucial data with impeccable environmental credentials and the lowest lifetime cost of ownership.

Erik Johansson has been our technical pipeline's beating heart ever since he joined The Goodbye Kansas team in 2012. With a degree in “Master of Science in Media Technology and Engineering” from the University of Linköping, he has an amazing ability to improve and evolve the pipeline, constantly pushing the borders to make us even more efficient and reliable

Jateen’s expertise in VFX has been honed over two decades working with major studios in a range of artistic and leadership positions on a plethora of feature films and varied media formats. His portfolio spans content for major Hollywood and Bollywood motion pictures, commercials, streaming platforms, and theme parks.

Having worked as BgPrep, Compositor, Lead Compositor, Compositing Supervisor, Sequence Supervisor, and VFX Supervisor, Jateen has a deep-rooted understanding of the craft and is able to translate this into his role as a leader.

Akhauri P Sinha is the Managing Director of Framestore India, where he has set up and established Framestore’s newest studio, a state-of-the-art facility in Mumbai that will work alongside Framestore’s established global network. Prior to joining Framestore, he was Managing Director at Method Studios, where he headed the studio’s Indian operations. An industry, content and production veteran, Akhauri has worked across film, TV and VFX for over 25 years, including in leadership roles spanning companies such as UTV, Nimbus, BBC Studios and MPC.

Mangesh Kushaba Awate, CG Supervisor at MPC India, comes from a pharmaceutical background. His interest in digital art pulled him into Visual Effects. After starting his career as an MMRA artist, Mangesh slowly moved into a 3D generalist role, exposing him to other disciplines of VFX.

Since 2010, he has worked on many feature films and TV series and produced world- class VFX for each. His hunger to always learn new things never makes him complacent. On a personal note, Mangesh enjoys spending time at the beach, on mountains and loves to go on long drives with family and friends.

Gautami Vegiraju is a Director of Photography, Creative Technologist and an On-Set Virtual Production Consultant. Alongside her live-action and ICVFX work; she is expanding into working with animation, games, immersive experiences and inter-disciplinary imaging. She has shot for brands like Mercedes-Benz, L'Oréal, John Deere, Unilever, Nestlé, and Redbull. And for production houses like Devgn Films, Luv Films and Clean Slate Filmz.

Being an alumnus of two Unreal Engine Fellowships and currently heading the cinematography department at Whisper Studios; she leverages her unique live-action perspective and a precise yet versatile VP skillset to creatively and technically blur the lines between the real and unreal. Gautami has designed and developed the curriculum and VP facility for the Virtual Production Academy by Aptech.She is a member of the Indian Chapter of VES and the IWCC; and a former mentor for the Women Creators Program by Epic Games.

In her role as Group Chief Development Officer at Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, Mrinalini drives strategic content expansion in India and Asia. Mrinalini’s forte lies in her holistic approach to content development—from ideation and packaging to global marketing and execution. Her leadership has been pivotal in opening new business avenues, establishing fresh concepts, and penetrating untapped markets, thus highlighting her significant impact on the global stage of entertainment.

She has developed and executed projects with some of the biggest production houses in India like Emmay Entertainment, Dharma Productions, Phantom Films, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Good Morning films amongst others.

Jayesh Ranjanis a member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of the 1992 batch and working in the state of Telangana. Jayesh Ranjan is the Special Chief Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Telangana government. His assignment involves developing policy frameworks, attracting new investments, identifying opportunities for utilizing IT in various government processes, and promoting the digital empowerment of the citizens.

Animation, Gaming, VFX, Multimedia (IMAGE) is an important priority sector for the Telangana Government. Jayesh Ranjan has played a key role in designing a very progressive IMAGE policy, creating world-class infrastructure for this sector, and developing a very thriving ecosystem.

Jasjit Singh has worked for over 15 years in the VFX and animation industry with projects ranging from animation feature films, 2D animation & hyper realistic VFX shows coordinating with teams across USA, UK, Canada and India.

Some of Jellyfish Pictures’ clients are Disney, Sony, Lego, Netflix, etc.

Hitesh is the co-founder of BOT and its CEO. Since its founding in 2008, he has led the company through an amazing journey of growth in size, clientele, geographic footprint, and scope of services. His steadfast and disciplined leadership has enabled BOT to become a highly recognized and admired brand in the industry.

Hitesh is equally at ease in creative decision-making as he is in technology and leadership decisions. He finds it exhilarating to address the unusual mix of creative, technological, and management challenges inherent in the visual effects business. He is an active evangelist for disciplined leadership and the application of management science in helping BOT achieve an even larger scale and impact.

Among some of his many accomplishments, Hitesh has produced credits on numerous films and episodics, is a serial entrepreneur who has founded several other companies prior to BOT, and is a co-author of a patent on speech recognition applications. He is a member of the Visual Effects Society, a member of an executive leadership group called The Brain Trust, and a Charter Member of the global organisation The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE). He holds a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University.

Juhi Sharma is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, based in New York and Mumbai.

She is most interested in telling stories of women, non-binary folk, and children and her focus drives her to understand the universal thread of emotion that unites us all.With work panning over 10 years, she has been a part of over 50 films as a Director of Photography and is currently building her reel as a director. She has travelled, lived, and worked in the USA , UK, UAE and India.

As a DP, her films have premiered and played at the Oscar Qualifying Film Festivals. Most recently, she co-directed and shot the India portion of Convergence: Courage in a Crisis which theatrically premiered at IFC, New York, and is available to stream on Netflix. She also served as a DP on Amazon Prime Video's first non-fiction documentary series in India, Rainbow Rishta which premiered at Jio MAMI Film Festival, 2023.

Nanda Kumar Nair is a VFX Supervisor at yFX Studios. He started his career as a Junior Compositor with 'Krrish' in 2006. In 2017, he joined yFX as an Associate Shoot and Compositing Supervisor on Mubarakaan and has since worked with the biggest stars in Bollywood, consistently introducing new techniques to set. His most recent project was 'Tiger 3'.

Nanda Kumar Nair is a VFX Supervisor at yFX Studios. He started his career as a Junior Compositor with 'Krrish' in 2006. In 2017, he joined yFX as an Associate Shoot and Compositing Supervisor on Mubarakaan and has since worked with the biggest stars in Bollywood, consistently introducing new techniques to set. His most recent project was 'Tiger 3'.

Pride of Maharashtra awardee, Abhishek More is a visionary entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of NSE listed Digikore Studios. With 24+ years of experience in content production and VFX for film and television, he has established himself as a proven leader in business strategy, strategic planning, marketing, and operations. As an entrepreneurial, pioneering, and techno-creative leader, he possesses disruptive ideas and a passion for achieving results.

His exceptional problem-solving skills and out-of-the-box thinking make him adept at solving large-scale challenges. With a strong background in technology and creativity, coupled with excellent management skills, he actively contributes as an entrepreneur and investor, driving innovation and success at all levels.

Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran is a highly skilled Indian cinematographer renowned for his contributions to the Hindi film industry. With a focus on visual storytelling, he has made a significant mark in Bollywood. Ravichandran's journey began with his debut film "Two Countries" (2015), a Malayalam production directed by Shafi. However, it was his foray into Bollywood with "Baaghi 2" (2018), starring Tiger Shroff, that propelled him into the limelight.

Recently, Ravichandran completed work on an exciting project titled "Skyforce," featuring Akshay Kumar in the lead role. In this film, he experimented with various lens options, showcasing his versatility and willingness to push creative boundaries. With each project, Ravichandran continues to captivate audiences with his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft, solidifying his position as one of the industry's most promising cinematographers.

A savant of the VFX industry, National Award winner Naveen Paul has worked on over 200 projects over the past 22 years. From digital compositing to creative VFX direction, he has in-depth knowledge of what goes into making a blockbuster. After years of holding senior positions in topnotch post-production houses, Paul decided to break free and co-founded the NY VFXWAALA studio. Within two years of co-founding NY VFXWAALA, he won the 64th National Film Award for Best Special Effects for the movie 'Shivaay,' directed by Ajay Devgn.

Apart from several Indian feature films and ad films, Naveen has also worked extensively on lots of Oscar award winning Hollywood feature films. He was part of the core team for films like ‘Chronicles of Narnia,' 'Superman Returns,' 'The Fast and The Furious... Tokyo Drift,' 'Garfield 2,' 'Night at the Museum,' 'The Golden Compass,' 'Evan Almighty,' etc. He has also worked extensively on several International CGI animated series like ‘Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks,’ which again won lots of awards.

K. K. Senthil Kumar is a prominent Indian cinematographer renowned for his exceptional work in Telugu cinema. With a degree in cinematography from the esteemed Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Senthil Kumar embarked on his cinematic journey, making a significant mark in the industry.

He gained widespread recognition with his debut film "Aithe" in 2003, establishing himself as a promising cinematographer. Senthil Kumar's collaboration with acclaimed director S.S. Rajamouli has been particularly noteworthy, leading to several blockbuster hits.

Notable works in his filmography include "Sye" (2004), "Magadheera" (2009), "Eega" (2012), "Baahubali: The Beginning" (2015), "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" (2017), and "RRR" (2022). His contributions to these films have earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including two Nandi Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.

Notable works in his filmography include "Sye" (2004), "Magadheera" (2009), "Eega" (2012), "Baahubali: The Beginning" (2015), "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" (2017), and "RRR" (2022). His contributions to these films have earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including two Nandi Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.

Senthil Kumar's expertise and artistry in cinematography were further acknowledged when he was invited to join the Oscar Jury in 2023, a testament to his international recognition and acclaim.

With over 15 years of experience in delivering and sustaining revenue and profit gains across the film industry within highly competitive emerging international markets, Mayank Shroff has been associated with Cinepolis India since its inception. He is skilled in handling activities involving acquisitions, and content licensing, accredited with extensive understanding of contents across multiple languages and regions across India. He has expertly managed entire operations with focus on top and bottom line profitability by ensuring optimal utilisation of resources.

Mayank Shroff has successfully headed New Business Stream for UTV Disney Motion Pictures at national level. He has been accredited with Best Film Programmer from Indywood film festival at Hyderabad (2017). He has also represented Cinepolis in Box Office India panel discussion (2018).

Rutul Patel holds an MFA in art direction from Academy of Arts, San Francisco. She has worked at advertising agencies McCann Erickson and Publicis before starting her VFX career at Prime Focus Los Angeles, as a matte painter on Avatar and Tree of Life. She has produced TV commercials and directed CGI for clients including Unilever and Birla.

Rutul currently manages award-winning Paris-based VFX studio Digital District in India as CEO, and leads the creative team as VFX producer and supervisor. She’s also chair of VES India and a recipient of the Unreal Fellowship as part of the first Women Creators Program 2021 as well as a creative mentor for the second edition of WCP fellowship.

Lennard Pinto started his career in 2002 as a 3D Generalist and has worked at yFX Studios since its inception in 2016. He is now a CG Supervisor at yFX and has worked on YRF projects since star-powered ‘Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai’. Lennard has always been ready to incorporate the latest tech in every project and is currently occupied with setting up the yFX Virtual Production Lab.

Boasting a career spanning almost four decades, Ken Ghosh is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who started as a dancer and choreographer, later working under luminaries like cinematographer Ashok Mehta and editor Afaque Hussain. He pioneered the Indian Music Video Industry in the '90s, directing over 150 music videos for artists ranging from Asha Bhosle, and Alisha Chinai to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Ghosh's contributions extend to feature films, notably launching Shahid Kapoor in 'Ishq Vishk'.

Ghosh's diverse repertoire includes acclaimed films like 'Fida' and 'Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii', alongside successful web series such as 'Dev DD', 'Haq Se', and the three seasons of 'Abhay', starring Kunal Khemu. His ZEE5 original film, 'State of Siege: Temple Attack', starring Akshaye Khanna, exemplifies his narrative prowess, solidifying his status as a versatile storyteller in both traditional and digital formats.

Ghosh remains dedicated to pushing creative boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema and digital storytelling.

Siddharth Diwan was born in New Delhi, India. He specialised in Motion Picture Photography from Satyajit Ray Film & TV Institute. He started his career as a wildlife cinematographer but soon moved to Mumbai where he worked his way up from being an electrician to grip and then camera assistant with renowned filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Tarsem Singh, Albert Brooks.

Siddharth has been the cinematographer for films like 'Queen,' 'Qala' (Netflix), 'Trapped,' 'Bulbul' (Netflix), 'Jayeshbhai Jordaar.'

Siddharth's first feature film as a cinematographer titled 'Peddlers' premiered at critique's week, Cannes Film Festival 2012. Another film he worked on 'Titli,' premiered at Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2014, He was Additional Cinematographer on 'Lunchbox' which premiered at Cannes 2013. He also photographed Rituparno Ghosh's 'Jeevan Smriti'. He has won a Filmfare award for best cinematography for his work in the film 'Queen' (2014).

Part of Indian Television Group Anil NM Wanvari, is the founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of the Indiantelevision.com group. He has spent more than 37 years in the media industry and is considered India's foremost analyst, consultant and catalyst for the media sector. It achieves this through its various B2B and B2C portals: indiantelevision.com (for the cable, satellite, OTT, production, advertising, marketing, media industries), tellychakkar.com (TV show and actor news for TV fans), AnimationXpress.com (for the VFX, comics, gaming, and animation segments) and radionandmusic.com (for the FM radio, digital music and music industry).

He is also a well known Television/Digital Producer known for producing The Indian Telly Awards for the last 16 years and oodles of digital content. It engages with industry by organizing thought leadership forums under its various verticals: Video and Broadband Summit, RadioConnex Awards, News Television Awards ,BrandVid, The Content Hub, Kids Animation & More, etc.

Elayaraja Krishnan, aka as Raja, is a highly accomplished VFX expert with an extensive track record spanning more than two decades within the industry. Raja is currently Director of Production and an Executive Visual Effects Producer at Industrial Light & Magic Mumbai.

Commencing his career as an editor/artist, Raja has progressed through various key management roles, including Group Head of Production during his tenure at Sony Imageworks and MPC Technicolor. His credits include: Antman, 1917, LionKing.

With over 22 years of experience in the animation industry, Anand has worked with high-level studios on many projects large and small. As the managing director of PhilmCGI, he handles hi-end technical challenges adroitly, with no production puzzle being too problematic to solve. A technical director and visionary, he also looks after the overall day-to-day operations of the studio.

Sherry Bharda is a founder member of yFX, the visual effects division of Yash Raj Studios, set up in 2016. As Creative and Visual Effects Supervisor, she has overseen the visual effects for several Hindi and international films, including Sultan, Tiger Zinda Hai, Hichki, Sui Dhaaga, Thugs of Hindostan, Uri, Bharat, among others. Prior to this assignment, Sherry was Creative Supervisor at Tata Elxsi’s Visual Computing Labs (VCL, 2002-2016). As a leader of the visual effects team, she supervised iconic projects such as Rang De Basanti, the three-part series of Dhoom, Ek Tha Tiger, Taare Zameen Par, Jodha Akbar, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and Neerja, among others. Her international visual effects projects included Gullivers Travels, Jack the Giant Slayer and HBO’s TV show Luck. A notable role was as Finaling Supervisor on Roadside Romeo, India’s first full-length 3D animation feature, as well as Arjun, another 3D animated feature. Both projects were produced by Disney. She spent two years at Netflix working with the VFX team in India to bring best practices and help raise the bar on Indian VFX for their shows.

Sherry is the recipient of several industry, national and international awards for her pioneering work in CGI and visual effects. Her team has won the President of India (National) Award thrice, and she has been nominated at the VES (Visual Effects Society, USA) Awards for “Outstanding Work in an animated feature film.” She has recently served as a jury member on a Siggraph panel and is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for VFX. Most recently, Sherry and her team at yFX have delivered the VFX on Pathaan and Tiger 3 for Yash Raj Films.

Sherry Bharda is a founder member of yFX, the visual effects division of Yash Raj Studios, set up in 2016. As Creative and Visual Effects Supervisor, she has overseen the visual effects for several Hindi and international films, including Sultan, Tiger Zinda Hai, Hichki, Sui Dhaaga, Thugs of Hindostan, Uri, Bharat, among others. Prior to this assignment, Sherry was Creative Supervisor at Tata Elxsi’s Visual Computing Labs (VCL, 2002-2016). As a leader of the visual effects team, she supervised iconic projects such as Rang De Basanti, the three-part series of Dhoom, Ek Tha Tiger, Taare Zameen Par, Jodha Akbar, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and Neerja, among others. Her international visual effects projects included Gullivers Travels, Jack the Giant Slayer and HBO’s TV show Luck. A notable role was as Finaling Supervisor on Roadside Romeo, India’s first full-length 3D animation feature, as well as Arjun, another 3D animated feature. Both projects were produced by Disney. She spent two years at Netflix working with the VFX team in India to bring best practices and help raise the bar on Indian VFX for their shows.

Sherry is the recipient of several industry, national and international awards for her pioneering work in CGI and visual effects. Her team has won the President of India (National) Award thrice, and she has been nominated at the VES (Visual Effects Society, USA) Awards for “Outstanding Work in an animated feature film.” She has recently served as a jury member on a Siggraph panel and is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for VFX. Most recently, Sherry and her team at yFX have delivered the VFX on Pathaan and Tiger 3 for Yash Raj Films.

Rupal Rawal is a seasoned VFX professional with over quarter of a century of industry expertise spanning feature films, television and commercials. With a career kick-started at Crest Communication and further honed at renowned organisations like Star TV and Prime Focus, Rupal is celebrated for her creative ingenuity in VFX. Her accolades include Best VFX awards for films Kick, Blue, Love Story 2050, Chandni Chowk to China, Guzaarish and Ghajini, recognised by IIFA, Apsara, Screen and many other honours. Her contributions extend globally, having made impact on international films such as Scream 4, Transformers: Dark of The Moon and Final Destination 5.

Complementing her practical experience, Rupal pursued advanced education in Computer Arts and Multimedia post-graduation. She further diversified her skill set by completing the Colorist Masterclass from FCM California-USA, subsequently undertaking projects as a colourist. A perpetual learner, Rupal is currently delving into the integration of AI in visual effects, adding yet another dimension to her versatile skill set.

Hitesh is the co-founder of BOT and its CEO. Since its founding in 2008, he has led the company through an amazing journey of growth in size, clientele, geographic footprint, and scope of services. His steadfast and disciplined leadership has enabled BOT to become a highly recognized and admired brand in the industry.

Hitesh is equally at ease in creative decision-making as he is in technology and leadership decisions. He finds it exhilarating to address the unusual mix of creative, technological, and management challenges inherent in the visual effects business. He is an active evangelist for disciplined leadership and the application of management science in helping BOT achieve an even larger scale and impact.

Among some of his many accomplishments, Hitesh has produced credits on numerous films and episodics, is a serial entrepreneur who has founded several other companies prior to BOT, and is a co-author of a patent on speech recognition applications. He is a member of the Visual Effects Society, a member of an executive leadership group called The Brain Trust, and a Charter Member of the global organisation The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE). He holds a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University.

A doyen in the animation industry, Milind D. Shinde’s career boasts of close to two decades of experience and is spread over diverse domains namely Project Management, Production and New Studio Set up. He was part of the core team involved in setting up the production of the India business unit of DreamWorks Animation Studios. During his stint with DreamWorks Animation Studios, Milind played a crucial role in the production work executed in India for some of their successful movie franchises such as Madagascar, Puss in Boots and How to Train Your Dragon to name a few. He also was one of the key members involved in setting up the production for Dreamworks Animation Studios in Shanghai called as Oriental DreamWorks and worked on Kung Fu Panda 3 which was one of the highest grossing animated features in China.

Through his astute management skills, unflinching vision and a zeal for quality and creativity, Milind has successfully established 88 Pictures as a key player in the arena of Animation and premium content delivery services with several reputed projects to their credit. Their clientele boasts of studios such as Dreamworks Animation Studios, Warner Bros Animation, Nickelodeon, Lucas Film, Gaumont and Netflix to name a few. The company recently made a successful foray into the domain of VFX with the Siddharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna starrer Mission Majnu.

Prior to starting his entrepreneurial journey with 88 Pictures in the animation field, Milind also worked in various industries and comes with a degree in engineering and management.

As the founder, CEO, and VFX Supervisor of PhantomFX, Bejoy Arputharaj has been the pillar behind the growth and success of PhantomFX. From humble beginnings to making it to the heights of success, Bejoy Arputharaj proves that anything is possible with a little grit and a lot of passion. An Artist at heart and a veteran of the CGI space, Bejoy has over two decades of experience and more than two hundred films under his belt. Some of the notable movies include ‘Beast’, ‘RRR’, ‘Vikram’, ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Vishwaroopam 2’, ‘Indru Netru Naalai’ and ‘Seema Raja’.

Leading the charge at PhantomFX, Bejoy is truly a multi-talented business leader, donning several hats. With his proactive direction, he has led the growth of the company from a small studio of six to its current status as a thriving business. With branches and offices spanning the globe, PhantomFX has over 600 employees in its state-of-the-art studios in Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. It has expanded its wings worldwide by setting up administrative offices in the US, Canada, and Dubai.

Grown exponentially, PhantomFX today is a publicly traded company with multiple international recognition and numerous awards. Mr. Bejoy Arputharaj has won the prestigious title of ‘Business Icon Award - 2022’ in the category Company of the year at the Outlook Business Spotlight’s Business Icons Awards 2022. Under his leadership, PhantomFX has won Times Business Award 2022 for Excellence in the VFX and Animation industry. His recent accolade, the 'Outstanding Young Person of the Year in India' for 2022 conferred by the Junior Chamber International's India group is yet another crowning stroke.

He has been serving as the board manager for Visual Effects Society’s India Section, since 2017. His guidance and leadership serve as a valuable source of inspiration for everyone at PhantomFX, driving the company forward and shaping its future.

Keitan embarked on his VFX journey in 1996, evolving from a talented artist to a seasoned VFX supervisor & producer by 2003, catalysing Red Chillies Entertainment's VFX debut with Main Hoon Na. Co-founding Redchillies.vfx in 2006, he propelled India's VFX landscape to global standards, overseeing its growth from 40 to 500+ professionals. His leadership ushered iconic VFX films like Ra.One, Krrish 3, Fan, Jawan, garnering accolades including a National Award. His influence extends beyond studio walls; he was co-chairperson of VES, India, and currently has been appointed as the Industry Partner for the AVGC Taskforce, formed by the Government of India, to help formulate the National AVGC policy for India. As COO, his 26-year expertise continues to elevate Red Chillies' post-production prowess.

Chaitanya has had a multi-faceted two-decade career in the film & creative arts industry. He has been instrumental in the strengthening of film & creative arts education in India and the evangelising of multiple new & emerging technologies both into the mainstream education at Whistling Woods and into the film, media & entertainment industry at large, through setting up of Research & Development labs, in partnership with several global Media technology giants, at the Whistling Woods campus in Mumbai.

He also currently serves on the global Board of Governors of the SMPTE and is the Cinematic Virtual Reality co-leader for Asia Pacific for the global VR/AR Association. He is also a strategic advisor to several startups in the M&E, Technology & Education verticals.

Ashish Kulkarni embarked on his journey in the field of arts and media in 1995, and is the founder of Punnaryug Artvision. Ashish is also the Chairman of the AVGC-XR forum at FICCI and MCCIA, and has been persistently engaged with AVGC-XR policy makers in India at central and state levels.

In the last two decades, Ashish's push for state level policies inclusive of AVGC-XR skill development and creation has allowed for their successful implementation under IT ITES policies or independent AVGC policies in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, Telangana, Goa, MP, Chattisgarh, West Bengal, TN and Kerala. Moreover, states like UP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat are actively considering the formation of AVGC policies to promote creative skill development and job creation.

Prasad is the Head of Studio for DNEG India, one of the world's leading visual effects, animation and stereo conversion companies for feature film and television. Prasad collaborates extensively with DNEG's management, leadership, and core teams to lead and mentor it's crews across India by sharing his wealth of experience, knowledge, and ideas.

Prasad has been at the forefront of producing VFX and animation for over two decades. He has played key roles in establishing and growing artist-friendly studios across Asia. Over the years, Prasad has played a crucial role in establishing and collaboratively developing DNEG’s VFX and Animation pipelines in India, while also overseeing the delivery of India teams on all of its most successful VFX projects, including our Oscar-winners Blade Runner 2049, First Man, Tenet, and most recently Dune.

Prior to DNEG, Prasad worked with Rhythm & Hues and Dreamworks Animation.

Emphasising the collaboration among directors, art directors, VFX supervisors, and cinematographers for elevated visual storytelling.

Addressing challenges like AI impact, industry disruptions, and exploring innovations for smoother workflows.

Discussing India's role as a global VFX outsourcing hub and opportunities for evolution in the industry.

Highlighting the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the entertainment industry.

Showcasing advancements in VFX technology, case studies from big-budget to low-budget films, and insights into tech-based solutions.

Explore the business side of VFX. Discuss emerging trends in the market, potential collaborations, and business opportunities within the industry.

Uncover the latest trends shaping the VFX landscape. From emerging technologies to storytelling techniques, analyze the trends that define the industry in 2024.

From being known as an outsourcing and post-production hub to producing high-quality domestic projects, the Indian visual effects industry has come a long way. Be it a feature film, advertisement, serial or music video, VFX is everywhere! The VAM Awards intends to honour and recognise the magic of the creators behind these immersive, awe-inspiring visuals and set the bar for the Indian VFX industry.