Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah inaugurates the 5th Edition of Bengaluru GAFX 2024 with the focal theme ‘Augmented Intelligence: Powering AVGC’ by the Government of Karnataka & ABAI

Mumbai : The Fifth Edition of Bengaluru GAFX, India’s flagship event in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics (AVGC) sector, organized by the Ministry of ITBT, Karnataka, and ABAI, today inaugurated by Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka. The event took place in the august presence of Shri D.K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka today at the Hotel Lalit Ashok, Bangalore. This year’s focal theme, ‘Augmented Intelligence: Powering AVGC,’ serves as a unifying force, bringing together the Animation, Visual Effects, Games & Comics (AVGC) industry for an audience of knowledge exchange. The event aims to create a common platform, fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and government to deliberate the learnings, trends, challenges, and future roadmap of the AVGC sector.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by guest of honour, Shri Rizwan Arshad, Minister of Karnataka Legislative Assembly; Shri Prithul Kumar, IRTS, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India & Interim Managing Director, National Film Development Corp. (NFDC); Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman Axilor Ventures, Co-founder Infosys, President Infosys Science Foundation; Mr. Thierry Berthelot, Consul General of France in Bangalore; Mr. Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru; Ms. Nivruti Rai, MD, and CEO Invest India; Mr. Rajan Navani, Founder & CEO, JetSynthesys; Mr. Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Asia South – NVIDIA; Mr. Sai Srinivas Kiran Garimella; Co-Founder, MPL;  Mr. Ashish Kulkarni, Founder & CEO, Punnaryug Artvision Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Sudhir Kamath, COO, Nazara Technologies; Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Secretary to Government, Dept. of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Govt. of Karnataka; Mr. Biren Ghose, Country Head, Technicolor India and President, ABAI; Shri Darshan H V, IAS, Director, Department of Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology, Govt. of Karnataka; Mr. RK Chand, Executive Director, The Mill India & Secretary, ABAI.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah said, “I am pleased to inaugurate this congregation of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics (AVGC) industry at the 5th edition of Bengaluru GAFX. Karnataka has long been the torchbearer state in India across technology, innovation, and growth. We are proud to be the pioneers of leading the IT and IT-enabled services industries. Our state, a trailblazer in technology, is proud to lead the nation’s Media & Entertainment sector, contributing 20% to the industry. With over 15,000 professionals and 300 specialized studios, GAFX celebrates Karnataka’s role as a global AVGC hub. With a focus on generating 30,000 jobs by 2028, targeting 80% revenue from exports, the policy rests on six strategic pillars—emphasizing skill development, infrastructure, startup empowerment, global market access, incentives, and a ‘Mobile First’ approach. Since 2012, Karnataka has been a pioneering force, boasting 139 specialized institutes and Digital Art Centers, with the Karnataka Centre of Excellence (COE) serving as a unique facility nurturing creative technologists and technicians. As we delve into the next two days of discussions, let’s concentrate on the synergy of creativity and technology that defines our industry. Bengaluru GAFX 2024 provides the platform for government and industry collaboration, propelling the AVGC industry in India to new heights.”

A patron of Bengaluru GAFX 2024, Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Govt. of Karnataka said “Karnataka, a pioneer in evolving India’s AVGC policies, is committed to securing a future where it not only maintains the state’s leadership in traditional IT-BPM but emerges as a global powerhouse in AVGC-XR. With a vision to create 30,000 jobs by 2028, we shall leverage our existing strengths and additionaly establish a center of excellence for Gaming. The state is also looking to help establish AVGC-XR-focused incubators. Bengaluru GAFX epitomizes our dedication to becoming a global skilling epicenter, aiming to position Karnataka as the world’s #1 hub for creativity and technological advancement. The Bengaluru GAFX B2B Forum acts as a catalyst, propelling local talent onto the global stage, and defining Karnataka as the leader in AVGC-XR intellectual property creation.”

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Shri Biren Ghose, ABAI President & Country Head, Technicolor India, said: “Bengaluru GAFX 2024, is a celebration of our wins and exploring new avenues for the all-round growth of AVGC in India. With diverse sessions, competitions, and networking opportunities, Bengaluru GAFX 2024 will witness a stellar lineup of speakers comprising industry veterans and thought leaders. The AVGC industry is on a continuous growth spree, and events like GAFX bring together studios, producers, and investors, creating a hub for gaming, film, animation, AR/VR, and comics. It’s more than an event; it’s a platform where innovation meets opportunity, shaping the future of India’s creative narrative on a global scale.

Bengaluru GAFX 2024 is set to host 120 sessions and 200 speakers, including more than 20 renowned international speakers hailing from 10 different countries. This impressive lineup features industry veterans and thought leaders, including winners of prestigious awards such as Oscars, British Arrows, VES Awards, Cannes Golds, and esteemed Indian accolades. Bengaluru GAFX stands out as a unique event in the AVGC industry, facilitating the convergence of Indian and international synergy. Both international and Indian studios, along with industry veterans, will present some of the largest and most critically acclaimed titles during the event.

• VFX: This edition will see some leading Indian & international names in the world of visual effects. Some mind-blowing visual effects showcases from Hollywood that wowed audiences the world over will be presented at GAFX including the Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Antman & Wasp Quantamania, and The Fast & the Furious X. As well as the Making of Blockbuster LEO’s Photoreal Hyena VFX by multiple-Oscar winning studio MPC’s Jateen Thakkar & Nimish N Shah, the Making of Jurassic World by Industrial Light and Magic, London and Srinivas Mohan- the VFX Supervisor for RRR. The rise of VFX content in the Indian regional landscape will be further underscored by showcases from Ghost, Jawan, Animal, PS2, Charlie 777 and Vikrant Rona.

• Animation: Cutting-edge animation presentations and showcase include the animation of Oscar-nominated movie Nimona by DNEG, Delivering Spectacular Animated Features from India by Oscar-nominated studio Mikros Animation, and Independent Global Animation Films by Assemblage, as well as How to secure your IP for Content Creators by Zebu Animation. Greengold Animation will present its unique work on the Making of Chhota Bheem Live Action movie.

• Gaming: Kalari Capital’s Vani Kola & Invest India CEO Nivruti Rai are slated to address the incredibly exciting gaming landscape of India in the session ‘Investor Speak – Strategies for Staying Relevant and Resilient in the Indian Gaming Startup Ecosystem.’ Leaders of the Gaming ecosystem Kris Gopalkrishnan- Chairman Axilor Ventures, Co-founder Infosys, President Infosys Science Foundation & Rajan Navani– Vice Chairman & Managing Director at JetLine Group of Companies; Founder & CEO JetSynthesys will address the gathering on The Indian Video Gaming and Esports Industry. MPL, Nazara Technologies, Nodwin Games and Technicolor Games will present insightful panels and showcases on topics ranging from the ecosystem, technologies, talent and game art & animation.

Moreover, the Bengaluru GAFX B2B Forum stands as a distinctive platform meticulously designed to connect IP owners, developers, content creators, and production houses aspiring to produce groundbreaking content. This event acts as an exclusive interface, attracting selected international and national studios, producers, broadcasters, distributors, and financiers. Esteemed industry figures like Rajeshwari Roy, Associate Chief Producer & Head of Content – Animation, Digital & Broadcast Media at Ramoji Group, Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz, Creator of Nickelodeon’s hit international franchise Shimmer and Shine, and Russell Tracy Jr. from Mikros Animation will contribute to the stellar industry lineup at this marketplace forum.

A diverse range of competitions is thoughtfully curated to engage the talents and potential of students and emerging professionals, representing the future workforce of India. Spanning from traditional artistry like Clay Sculpting to the digital realms of Sculpting and Painting, and venturing into the intricate world of 3D Character Animation, these competitions are carefully crafted by industry leaders. The primary objective is to nurture a sustained ecosystem that promotes a culture of progression, skill enrichment, and mentorship within the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) realm in India.

In its fourth edition, Bengaluru GAFX and the B2B Forum continue to shape the future of the AVGC-XR industry, providing a platform that facilitates collaboration, innovation, and the exchange of ideas on a global scale. The event is organized with a steering committee covering all individual domains of VFX, Animation, and Gaming. GAFX will also witness the participation of AVGC trade associations from other states, including TVAGA from Telangana.