You bring the talent
You write, draw, shoot, compose, code or perform. You may only have an idea. That is enough to start.
People × Technology × Nature × Markets
CreativeIndustries.Reimagined.
Rise from creator to creative entrepreneur.
Where creativity, technology and enterprise converge to build a more human, sustainable and prosperous world.
12A · 80G · NGO Darpan RegisteredDPIIT Startup India · IEC · Udyam · SEPC Member · 80G tax benefitSide A · Intro · Read this first
Our mission, in one lineWe help creators infilm, animation, gaming, music & comicsturn their talent into businesses they own,powered by deep & emerging technology.
- Not a school. Not an agency. A movement of creators who refuse to stay service providers.
- You bring the talent. We bring the labs, the money pathways, the market and the stage.
- Your stories. Your IP. Your company. Nobody owns you. You own your work.
1,081Founders reached across Telangana in one month
9District programmes, one format, zero variation
00Days left to Cinematica Expo® 2026
Start with who you are
One ecosystem. A clear door for everyone.
Creator or filmmakerMake, fund and sell your story→Software engineerSwitch into creative tech→Student or learnerFree lessons, start today→Founder or startupBuild a creative company→Investor or fundCurated creative deal flow→University or business schoolResearch, cases, immersions→Government or embassyPolicy, delegations, MoUs→Brand or companyPartner, sponsor, hire talent→
New here? Start here
CINICA in 60 seconds.
India has some of the world's best storytellers, but most of them work for others and never own what they make. CINICA Creators Council is a non-profit that changes that, in three simple steps.
We help you build it
Training, real labs, mentors from the industry, legal help to protect your idea, and a path to funding.
You own it and earn
Your story becomes a product people pay for: a film, a game, a series, an album. The rights stay with you.
Who is it for?
StudentsLearn the tools studios use, and build a portfolio while you study.
Working creativesTurn freelance skills into your own studio or label.
Studios and startupsFind talent, labs, co-producers and global buyers.
Investors and brandsBack original Indian IP early, with a trusted partner.
Governments and institutionsUse our frameworks to grow jobs in the creative economy.
Creator Academy · free
Learn the business of creativity.
Eight two minute lessons every creator should know. Read one, answer one quick question, and watch your progress grow. Come back any time: your progress is saved on this device.
0/8lessons learned
Today's insight
🏅
You are Creator Ready.
Get your Creator Pass You finished all eight lessons. Make it official with your Creator Pass.
Free for everyone, everywhere
The Creative Industries Encyclopedia.
Industries, funding sources in India and abroad, country guides, IP and law, technology, careers and business: everything a creator needs, in plain words, with links to the official sources. Every road leads to Cinematica Expo® 2026, where you meet the people behind it.
Where it all comes together
Meet every topic in person at Cinematica Expo® 2026
12 & 13 December, Hyderabad. Studios, funds, platforms, governments and creators from many countries on one floor.
CINICA Creators Council · The 2026 album
Rise from Creator to Creative Entrepreneur
- 01AboutWho we are, and why India’s stories can win the world.
- 02EcosystemHow talent, ideas, money and audiences connect through us.
- 03ProgramsStep by step programmes that turn an idea into a business.
- 04MusicMusic is a business too. Here is how we back music makers.
- 05LabsReal studios and tools: AI, virtual production, motion capture.
- 06OpportunitiesOpen calls. Pick one and step in today.
- 07ResearchThe big ideas we bring to government and industry.
- 08CinematicaThe expo and the hackathon where everyone meets.
- 09CommunityYour people: mentors, members and your Creator Pass.
- +Bonus · The TeamThe people who started this, and the masters who mentor it.
01
Track 01
About
Who we are, and why India’s stories can win the world.
About CINICA Creators Council
EverythingisCinema.
Rise from creator to creative entrepreneur.
01Section 8 non-profitBuilt for creators, owned by purpose
02T-Hub, HyderabadHome base for India's creative economy
03Hybrid Filmmaking™Our framework, our IP
04Cinematica Expo® 202612 & 13 December, Hyderabad
Registered & recognised
12AIncome-tax Act 80GDonor tax benefit NGO DarpanNITI Aayog IECDGFT UdyamMinistry of MSME DPIITStartup India 
SEPC MemberServices Export Promotion Council · Ministry of Commerce & Industry
SEPC MemberServices Export Promotion Council · Ministry of Commerce & IndustryCINICA Creators Council is the global platform for cinematic convergence.
We are a Section 8 non-profit, registered under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income-tax Act and on NGO Darpan (NITI Aayog), recognised by DPIIT under Startup India, holding IEC and Udyam registrations, a member of the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), headquartered in Hyderabad, building the infrastructure where film, animation, VFX, gaming, comics, AI, XR, motion capture, virtual production and creator enterprise work as one economy.
Five groups. One creative economy.Our work connects people who rarely sit in the same room.
01CreatorsMake the stories
02TechnologistsBuild the tools
03IndustryFinance and distribute
04GovernmentShape the policy
05Global partnersOpen new markets
The outcomeWe run labs, skill programmes, incubation, research and India's convergence expo. Everything we build serves one outcome: original storyworld IP, owned by Indian creators, travelling to every screen in the world.
The convergence thesisSix crafts. One language: cinema. Every format below is a different way of telling a story on screen, and every one of them is a business a creator can own.
Games
are interactive cinema
The audience holds the camera and writes the ending.
Leads toGame IP · live worlds · esports
Animation
is stylised cinema
Any world, any era, with no limits of location or cast.
Leads toSeries · features · kids IP
Comics
are sequential cinema
The first storyboard of an idea, and the cheapest proof of an IP.
Leads toGraphic novels · webtoons · film rights
XR
is spatial cinema
Stories you step inside, instead of watching from outside.
Leads toImmersive venues · heritage · tourism
Mocap
is performance cinema
Every move an actor makes becomes a reusable digital asset.
Leads toDigital humans · games · VFX
AI
is computational cinema
Previs, dubbing and worlds made in hours, directed by artists.
Leads toPrevis · localisation · creator tools
The global shift
Storytelling has moved through three economies. The fourth is being built now, and India can lead it.
1910s to 1970s
Studio era
Cinema as a factory. One screen, vertically integrated studios, star systems.
1970s to 2010s
Franchise era
The blockbuster. Sequels and expanded universes turn IP into an economic engine.
2010s to 2025
Platform era
Streaming and creator platforms. Distribution itself becomes the business.
2025 onward
Storyworld era
Stories live as persistent worlds across film, games, XR, comics and AI, co-created with audiences.
WHOOSH!Every world starts as a sketch.PANEL 01
POW!Comics are pre-visual cinema.PANEL 02
ZAP!Step inside the story.PANEL 03
SC 01SC 02SC 03SC 04
ACTION!Lights. Camera. Worlds.PANEL 04
Bharat storyworld capital
Bharat is the world's next storyworld capital.
India's advantage is its story civilisations: epics, regional traditions and living mythology that no other nation holds in such depth. We turn that heritage into IP systems built for global screens.
In simple words: India has thousands of years of great stories. We help creators turn them into films, games and shows that people around the world will pay to watch, and the creators keep the rights.
Stage 01 · Source
HeritageWe document epics, oral traditions and regional mythology with the communities that hold them.
OutcomeA rights cleared story library
Stage 02 · Shape
WorldbuildingMyth becomes an ownable universe: story bible, characters, canon and rules that work in every format.
OutcomeRegistered IP and a story bible
Stage 03 · Prove
VisualisationConcept art, animatics and AI previs show the world before a single rupee is spent on production.
OutcomeA pitch ready visual proof
Stage 04 · Make
ProductionHybrid Filmmaking™ brings virtual production, motion capture and VFX onto one pipeline.
OutcomeFinished film, series and game assets
Stage 05 · Scale
Global distributionOne IP, many screens: film, games, XR, OTT, merchandise and fan economies worldwide.
OutcomeRevenue that returns to the creator
- 01MythThe raw story
- 02IPOwned and registered
- 03ProofSeen before it is funded
- 04ProductFilm, game, series, XR
- 05RevenueReturns to the creator
Value grows at every stage and stays with Indian creators. That is the difference between selling a service and owning an IP.
Story vaults
Thousands of years of stories. Ready for the world's screens.
The original multiverse: rival dynasties, moral war, a franchise of 100,000 verses.
BecomesSaga films · strategy gamesA hero journey loved across Asia, with ready audiences in a dozen countries.
BecomesAnimated features · global co-productionsAnimal tales of wit and strategy, made for young audiences everywhere.
BecomesKids series · learning appsLove, war and landscape poetry over 2,000 years old, unseen on global screens.
BecomesPrestige drama · art filmsAn ocean of interlinked tales, built for episodic storytelling.
BecomesAnthology series · webtoonsA riddle in every episode, a ready format for audience play.
BecomesMystery series · puzzle gamesVillage gods, guardian spirits and local legends in every state.
BecomesHorror · fantasy · XR heritageStories still performed today, carrying built in fan communities.
BecomesLive events · immersive experiencesOur focus
We are Indigenous IP focused.
Every GI Tag is a story waiting for a screen. India's Geographical Indication crafts carry centuries of characters, colours and legends. We turn them into films, series, games and products, and we protect them at every step so the value returns to the communities that created them.
GI Tag · Andhra Pradesh
Kondapalli Bommalu
For about four centuries, artisans in Kondapalli village near Vijayawada have carved light tella poniki wood into bright toys: farmers, brides, gods, elephants carrying royal howdahs. Every Sankranti they come out for the Bommala Koluvu, the festival display of dolls.
From toy to storyworld
- Characters already exist: villagers, kings, gods and animals with distinct looks.
- Series: each night of Sankranti, the dolls of the Koluvu come alive and protect their village.
- Products: the animated series drives real Kondapalli toys, made by the GI artisans, into homes worldwide.
More GI Tags. More stories.
A few of India's registered Geographical Indications, and the stories they could become.
Etikoppaka Toys
Lacquered wooden toys coloured with natural dyes from seeds, bark and leaves.
Story ideaA colour quest: a young artisan travels the forest to find the lost natural colours.
FormatsKids animation · learning app
Leather Puppetry (Tholu Bommalata)
Translucent painted leather puppets that tell the epics in light and shadow.
Story ideaA shadow theatre troupe whose puppets step out of the screen at night.
FormatsAnimated feature · AR shadow show
Cheriyal Scroll Paintings
Long painted scrolls that narrate legends panel by panel, sung by travelling storytellers.
Story ideaAlready a storyboard: each scroll becomes an episode.
FormatsAnimated series · webcomic
Nirmal Toys and Craft
Light wooden toys and paintings in rich colours, from Nirmal in Adilabad.
Story ideaA village fair where every toy guards a secret of the forest.
FormatsStop motion · game
Pochampally Ikat
Geometric patterns dyed into thread before weaving, so the design lives inside the cloth.
Story ideaA mystery told in woven codes, where every pattern is a clue.
FormatsMystery drama · costume IP
Srikalahasti Kalamkari
Hand drawn pen art on cloth showing scenes from the epics and temple lore.
Story ideaA painter whose pen brings mythic panels to life.
FormatsAnimated anthology · art book
Bobbili Veena
A veena carved from a single block of jackfruit wood.
Story ideaA musical journey of one instrument passed through generations.
FormatsMusic film · documentary
Adilabad Dokra
Lost wax brass figures made by tribal metalsmiths, an art thousands of years old.
Story ideaA tribal legend of fire and metal, told through living brass figures.
FormatsFantasy film · collectibles
Telia Rumal
Oil treated ikat cloth once worn by fishermen and royalty alike.
Story ideaSea, trade and romance across the old ports of the Deccan.
FormatsPeriod drama · fashion IP
Channapatna Toys
Smooth lacquered wooden toys from Channapatna, known as the toy town of Karnataka.
Story ideaToy soldiers of a forgotten kingdom wake up to protect a child.
FormatsKids franchise · merchandise
Pattachitra
Cloth scroll paintings of Jagannath and the epics with fine borders.
Story ideaA temple festival saga told in moving scroll frames.
FormatsAnimated feature · XR heritage
Madhubani Painting
Bold line paintings of nature, gods and village life, made by women artists.
Story ideaA grandmother's wall paintings become a child's portal to other worlds.
FormatsKids series · picture books
Why protection matters
A story without protection is a gift to someone else.
When a craft becomes a film, a game or a toy line, five kinds of protection work together. Using Kondapalli Bommalu as the example:
- 01 · The craftGI Tag
- 02 · The storyCopyright
- 03 · The brandTrademark
- 04 · The productDesign registration
- 05 · The technologyPatent
Think of it as five locks on one treasure. Each lock guards a different part, and you need all five.
Protection
In the Kondapalli example
Without it
How long it lasts
Where to register
GI TagProtects: Where it comes from
Only artisans from Kondapalli can sell toys as “Kondapalli Bommalu”.
A factory anywhere could sell cheap copies under the same famous name.
10 years, renewable forever
Geographical Indications Registry
CopyrightProtects: The creative work itself
The script, the drawn characters, the animation and the title song of the series.
Anyone could copy your episodes, art or music and earn from them.
Creator's lifetime plus 60 years
Copyright Office
TrademarkProtects: Names, logos, symbols
The show title and logo on every box, T shirt and app.
A stranger could launch products with your title and confuse buyers.
10 years, renewable forever
Trade Marks Registry
Design registrationProtects: The shape and look of an object
The exact shape of a new hero toy or collectible figurine based on the series.
Others could make identical looking toys without asking you.
10 years, plus 5 more
Patent Office, Designs wing
PatentProtects: A new invention or method
A new rig or AI method that turns a real wooden toy into a 3D animated character.
Others could use your invention freely, after all your research.
Up to 20 years
Patent Office
All registrations in India are made with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, or the Copyright Office. Terms shown are general; specific works can differ. CINICA's Rights Clinic helps creators and artisan groups file correctly.
Our promise: every Indigenous IP we develop is built with the artisan community, credits them by name, and shares the benefits with them.
The team
The people building the storyworld era.
A small core team in Hyderabad, working with resource persons, mentors, institutions and volunteers across India and our partner corridors.
Leadership
Basi Reddy
President, AVGC Vertical, CINICA Creators CouncilFounder & CMD, DIGIQUEST India Ltd
Leads the council's animation, VFX, gaming and comics vertical, connecting studios, talent and technology.
Hybrid Filmmaking™ Program
Five pillars, five leads.
The framework unveiled at CINICATHON 2026, each pillar led by a practitioner.
From the CINICATHON 2026 stage
Mentors & industry panel.
Filmmakers, studio founders and technologists who led the knowledge sessions on IP and AVGC-XR, Hybrid Filmmaking and creator communities, and who mentor the network.
Session 01 · AVGC-XR, DeepTech & IPSession 02 · Hybrid Filmmaking & virtual productionSession 04 · Creators hub & communities
Ravi Kumar KothapalliManaging DirectorHornbill Studios
Jignesh TalasilaCo-Founder & CEOPerspectAI
Venkateshwar AllagaddaVFX Head & SupervisorVisual effects
Dr. Ravi MadalaFilm Producer & ActorIndian film industry
A. R. Kamal RoyHead, Department of PhotographyJNAFAU
Veera ShankarDirectorIndian film industry
Chaitanya Rao MadadiFilm ActorIndian film industry
Rom BhimanaFilm DirectorIndian film industry
Cinematica Expo® team
The people behind the expo.
Advisors, executives and creatives who build Cinematica Expo®, led by P. G. Vinda (Chairman & Managing Director) and Panja Shravan Kumar (Executive Director).
Board of Advisors
Veera ShankarDirectorFormer President, Telugu Film Directors Association
M. V. RaghuCinematographer & FilmmakerNandi Award recipient
Meher RameshDirectorBilla · Bhola Shankar
Ajayan VincentCinematographerRudhramadevi · Bhramaram
K. M. Radha KrishnanMusic DirectorGodavari · Anand · Chandamama
C. V. RaoChief Technology OfficerAnnapurna Studios, Hyderabad
Rajeev NaayarArt Director & Production DesignerThree National Awards
Bhupesh R BhupatiArt Director & Production DesignerGrahanam · Gautamiputra Satakarni
Executive Team
Jagadeesh BommisettiDOP & Virtual CinematographerAnnapurna Studios
Vodnala Santhosh KumarSound Engineer & Re-recording MixerFounder, V Sound Studios
Shashank Mouli ValicherlaCreative Director, VFX & 3DQ Media Express · YouCmee
Creative Team
Pedditi Ram ReddyGraphic DesignerRP Media
Programmes & Academy
Fellowships, Frames of Founders and the Creator Academy, from first idea to enterprise.
Labs & Technology
AI cinema, virtual production, motion capture, XR and digital humans labs.
Partnerships & Policy
Government, institutional, CSR and international corridor partnerships.
Cinematica Expo®
The convergence expo: zones, delegations, screenings and awards.
Research & Frameworks
Hybrid Filmmaking™, the CINICA Stack™ and policy research.
Community & Creators
The Creator Network, Cine Creators Organisation, mentors and volunteers.
Join the team. We work with specialists, mentors, interns and volunteers across programmes, labs and the expo floor.
Work with us 02
Track 02
Ecosystem
How talent, ideas, money and audiences connect through us.
The CINICA ecosystem
Eight units. Five flows.
Talent, IP, capital, distribution and visibility move between our eight units. Choose a flow to see how value travels through the network, or select a unit to read what it does.
In simple words: Think of CINICA as a small city with eight buildings: labs, a market, a forum, an expo and more. Walk into any one, and we make sure talent, ideas, money and audiences can move between them to reach you.
The CINICA Stack™
Five layers from idea to income.
Every storyworld moves through the same five layers. We build capability, partners and funding at each one, so creators keep ownership as their IP grows.
In simple words: Every project climbs the same five steps, from a story idea to money in the bank. We help at each step, so you never have to sell your idea cheaply just to survive.
Layer 01
Story IP
Global partnerships
Hyderabad to the world.
Collaboration corridors with eight creative economies, for co-production, talent exchange, technology and market access.
In simple words: We connect Indian creators with eight countries, so they can make films together, learn new tools and sell their work abroad.
| From | Corridor | Focus | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|
| HYD | Japan | Anime, gaming, media | Co-production |
| HYD | Korea | Webtoon, K-content formats | Format exchange |
| HYD | Canada | VFX, animation | Co-production |
| HYD | Australia | Animation, virtual production | Talent exchange |
| HYD | UAE | Co-financing, distribution | Market access |
| HYD | France | Animation, comics, festivals | Festival markets |
| HYD | United Kingdom | VFX, storyworld IP | Co-production |
| HYD | Singapore | Creative deeptech, regional reach | Market access |
LED volume stages AI & previs studios Film tourism districtInfrastructure
Hybrid Film City
A film city built for how cinema is now made. Hybrid Film City brings virtual production stages, capture labs, AI studios, post-production and film tourism into one campus, designed around the Hybrid Filmmaking™ pipeline.
- Virtual productionLED volumes and real-time engine stages
- Capture labsMotion, facial and volumetric capture
- AI studiosPrevis, VFX and generative pipelines
- Experience districtFilm tourism and immersive venues
Institutional collaborators
NI-MSMEMSME skilling
STPI HyderabadTechnology parks
JNAFAUFine arts university
Innovation
Hybrid Film CityInfrastructure
03
Track 03
Programs
Step by step programmes that turn an idea into a business.
Programs · Seven worlds
One ecosystem. Many worlds.
World 01
Nature & Heritage
Rooted futuresIndia's landscapes, monuments and living traditions are storyworlds waiting to be built. We turn heritage and locations into film tourism corridors, eco-cinema and cultural IP that communities own.
- Film tourism corridors
- Heritage storyworld labs
- Location ecosystems
- Eco and drone cinematography
TourismCultureStates & districts
World 02
Film & Animation
Stories without limitsFrom feature films to animated series, we back original stories from first draft to global release. Our Cinematica Mobile Feature Film Mission proves a studio-grade feature can be made on a phone.
- Original IP development
- Animation pipelines
- Mobile feature filmmaking
- Co-production readiness
FilmAnimationComics
World 03
AI & Immersive Tech
Realities beyondAI co-direction, virtual production, XR and digital humans are rewriting how cinema is made. Our labs give Indian creators hands-on access to the tools, with ethics and attribution built in.
- AI cinema and previs
- Virtual production on LED
- XR and spatial stories
- Digital humans
AIXRVirtual production
World 04
Gaming
Play largerGames are interactive cinema and India's fastest growing audience. We incubate studios, train real-time engine talent and build original game IP from Indian storyworlds.
- Studio incubation
- Real-time engine skills
- Esports production
- Game IP from epics
GamesEsportsReal-time
World 05
Creative Tech
Tools that createThe next great creative companies will build tools, not only content. CINICATHON and our accelerator take creative deeptech founders from prototype to incorporated studio.
- Creative deeptech startups
- CINICATHON challenges
- Accelerator cohorts
- Industry pilots
StartupsHackathonsIncubation
World 06
Performing Arts
Cultures in motionClassical dance, music and theatre carry centuries of craft. Motion capture, volumetric video and immersive stages bring these performances to new audiences without losing their grammar.
- Performance capture
- Immersive stages
- Music and sound worlds
- Artist residencies
DanceMusicTheatre
World 07
Global Markets
Opportunities without bordersStories earn their value when they travel. We build the co-production corridors, licensing pathways and market access that take Indian IP to audiences in every region.
- Co-production markets
- Licensing and rights
- International showcases
- Cultural diplomacy
MarketsLicensingDiplomacy
Our programmes
Flagship initiatives.
Six programmes that carry creators from first idea to a studio, a product or a global audience.
In simple words: Pick the programme that matches where you are today: just an idea, a small team, or a company ready to grow.
12 & 13 December 2026 · CapstoneCinematica Expo®
Creative technology and business, on one floor. India's convergence expo for the future of cinema.
27 June 2026 · NI-MSMECINICATHON
Creativity to enterprise. Four knowledge sessions, four award categories and a Union Minister's endorsement.
Cinematic fitnessFit to Films™
Creator transformation. Screen-ready fitness, discipline and presence for performers and creators.
RAMP · NI-MSMEFrames of Founders
Entrepreneurial stories. Nine district programmes across Telangana in August 2026, reaching 1,081 founders.
AI · XR · Virtual productionCreative Tech Labs
Working labs where creators get hands-on time with the tools reshaping production.
Storyworld IPIP Lab
From idea to global IP. Characters, lore and rights planned so creators keep ownership as the world grows.
Frames of Founders · The Telangana dispatch 2026
Nine districts. One month. 1,081 founders.
Between 5 and 31 August 2026, Frames of Founders took one programme format across Telangana on the theme of Creative Industries Entrepreneurship. Delivered under the RAMP Project with NI-MSME, co-organised by CINICA Creators Council and powered by Cinematica Expo, it went looking for the creative enterprises that institutions rarely see: photographers, filmmakers, weavers, designers and first-generation founders.
In simple words: In one month we ran the same founder programme in nine districts, so creators outside big cities got the same chance as those in Hyderabad.
9District programmes
1,081Participants recorded
30/33Districts represented
27Days, 5 to 31 Aug
12Press features
The nine programmes
| Date | Host district | Districts represented | Reach | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Aug | Rangareddy | Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Medchal Malkajgiri | 3 | 119 |
| 12 Aug | Warangal | Warangal, Hanumakonda, Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally | 4 | 142 |
| 14 Aug | Karimnagar | Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Peddapalli, Jagtial | 4 | 140 |
| 19 Aug | Khammam | Khammam, Mahabubabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem | 3 | 106 |
| 21 Aug | Nalgonda | Nalgonda, Suryapet | 2 | 71 |
| 25 Aug | Mahbubnagar | Mahbubnagar, Narayanpet, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Jogulamba Gadwal | 5 | 177 |
| 27 Aug | Medak | Medak, Sangareddy, Siddipet | 3 | 106 |
| 29 Aug | Nizamabad | Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Nirmal, Adilabad | 4 | 139 |
| 31 Aug | Yadadri Bhuvanagiri | Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Jangaon | 2 | 81 |
Participants as recorded on each programme's signed admission register.
The method
One format, nine halls, no variation.
The same three-session day ran in every district, delivered by the same resource persons, so the nine programmes can be read against one another. Each day closed with an interactive hour and a networking lunch that brought founders from neighbouring districts into one room.
- Session IConverting creative capability into enterpriseEnterprise formation, costing and pricing creative work, Udyam registration, portfolios and client acquisition. Panja Shravan Kumar, Director, CINICA Creators Council.
- Session IIThe Founder Story FrameworkA six-part enquiry, applied live: Founder, Story, Journey, Innovation, Impact and Opportunity, recorded through photography, short video and interview. Anjani Devi Bellamkonda, Head of Partnerships, CINICA Creators Council.
- Session IIIPolicy, compliance and craftMSME policy, taxation and funding, or a thematic session on cinematic storytelling and district enterprise stories. Sri P. G. Vinda and district resource persons.
From district hall to industry
- 1District hallFounder identified, story recorded
- 2Founder storySix-part framework applied
- 3The ChallengeSelection and recognition
- 4Cinematica Expo®Industry audience, 12 & 13 Dec 2026
- 5DevelopmentStrongest stories taken into new work
12 press featuresacross five districts, in Telugu and English
“The youth should strive to reach a stage where they create history rather than merely become a part of it.” P. G. Vinda, Mahbubnagar, 25 August 2026
04
Track 04
Music
Music is a business too. Here is how we back music makers.
Music & music tech
Every film has a score. Every score is an enterprise.
Music is a creative industry in its own right, and India’s is going global and going independent. CINICA backs musicians, producers, sound designers and music tech founders as creative entrepreneurs, alongside film, gaming and animation.
In simple words: If you make music, it can be a business too: protect your songs, release them yourself and earn every time someone plays or uses them.
178MMusic streamers in India, 2025
37%Growth in paid subscriptions, to 14.4M
28 to 30MPaid subscribers projected by 2028
40%+Of Indian artists’ Spotify royalties earned abroad
120%+Year on year growth in Telugu streams
Sources: EY and FICCI music and digital consumption study, April 2026. Spotify Loud & Clear India, 2026.
Music Rights Clinic
Copyright, publishing and neighbouring rights made practical: split sheets, metadata, ISRC and ISWC codes, and registration with Indian collecting societies, so creators keep their masters and get paid.
Music Tech Lab
Spatial audio and immersive mixing, real-time music for games and XR, and AI music tools used with consent and clear attribution, inside the CINICA Labs.
Artist to Enterprise
Business models for independent artists and labels: direct fan revenue, catalogue strategy, brand partnerships, and the Udyam and Startup India pathways CINICA already runs for creators.
Sync for Screens
Connecting composers and producers with films, series, games, ads and animation across the CINICA network, so every score in the Hybrid Filmmaking™ pipeline is a licensing opportunity.
Global Music Corridors
Using our international corridors for co-writing, showcases and distribution, because Indian music now earns a large share of its streaming income outside India.
Stage & Showcase
Listening sessions, music tech demos and creator showcases at Cinematica Expo® and CINICATHON, with a music track for producers, sound designers and music tech founders.
The music entrepreneur pathway
- 01Create
- 02Protect
- 03Produce
- 04Distribute
- 05Monetise
- 06Scale
Download2:01 · AAC audio · Credit CINICA Creators Council when you share it
05
Track 05
Labs
Real studios and tools: AI, virtual production, motion capture.
For software engineers and tech companies
Your code. Our stories.
The next blockbuster will be built by engineers. Real time engines, AI, cloud pipelines and capture systems now sit at the heart of film, games and immersive media. If you write software, the creative industries are your next big career, and the builders who move first will shape it.
Your skills already fit
Game engines, AI, cloud and graphics are the new tools of cinema. The industry needs engineers more than ever.
Work people can feel
Your code ends up on a cinema screen, in a game millions play, or in a heritage site people walk through.
Own what you build
Tools, pipelines and IP you create can become products and companies, not just billable hours.
A global industry
Studios worldwide outsource animation, VFX and post work to India, and India now offers incentives for such services.
01Find your creative tech role
Three steps. Under a minute. Leave knowing exactly where you fit.
- 1Pick your stack
- 2Explore the role
- 3Choose your path
Not sure? Pick what excites you:
02Your switch, in four steps
- Learn the creative stackFree lessons in the Creator Academy, then a lab track in engines, AI or capture.
- Build one real pieceA tool, a scene, a game prototype or an AI pipeline, mentored by industry practitioners.
- Ship it at CINICATHONTeam up with filmmakers and artists and show your work to studios and investors.
- Get seen at Cinematica Expo®12 & 13 December 2026, Hyderabad. Studios, platforms and founders on one floor.
03For tech companies
- Creative tech servicesOffer pipeline, rendering, AI and engine services to global studios and productions.
- Build productsTurn internal tools into software for studios, creators and live events.
- Hire and upskillMove teams into high value creative tech roles through CINICA labs and programmes.
- Sponsor and partnerBack labs, CINICATHON challenges and Cinematica Expo® pavilions to reach top talent.
Builders Guild intake is open. Engineers who join now get first access to lab tracks, CINICATHON challenge briefs and Cinematica Expo® builder passes. The Expo opens in soon.
Claim your Creator PassInnovation labs
Working labs, not showrooms.
In simple words: Our labs are real working studios. You can actually use AI tools, LED screen stages and motion capture suits here, not just look at them.
Open
AI Cinema Lab
Use AI to plan, test and finish films faster, with artists in charge.
- Turn a script into a rough animated preview
- Create voices and dubbing in many Indian languages
- Learn fair rules for credit and consent
- For
- Writers, directors, editors
- Leads to
- Faster films · lower budgets
Open
Virtual Production Lab
Shoot in front of giant LED screens that show any world, inside one studio.
- Film a desert, palace or spaceship without travel
- See the final look on set, not months later
- Train on camera tracking and game engines
- For
- Cinematographers, VFX artists, ad makers
- Leads to
- Big looking films · ads
Open
Motion Capture Lab
Record how a body, face and hands move, and give it to a digital character.
- Animate game and film characters with real acting
- Preserve classical dance and martial arts digitally
- Build a library of reusable movements
- For
- Actors, dancers, animators, game teams
- Leads to
- Game characters · VFX · archives
Open
XR Lab
Build stories people step inside, with VR headsets or AR on a phone.
- Prototype VR and AR experiences
- Bring monuments and museums to life
- Test ideas for theme parks and tourism
- For
- Developers, designers, heritage and tourism teams
- Leads to
- Immersive venues · tourism
Open
Digital Humans Lab
Create realistic digital actors and avatars, only with the person's permission.
- Build lifelike characters for film and games
- Create digital doubles for stunts and dubbing
- Protect likeness with clear consent contracts
- For
- Studios, actors, brands
- Leads to
- Virtual actors · brand avatars
Open
Storyworld Lab
Turn one good story into a universe that can feed many films, games and books.
- Write a story bible: characters, places, rules
- Plan the film, series, game and comic together
- Register and protect the IP
- For
- Writers, producers, founders
- Leads to
- Franchises · licensing income
IPProprietary framework of CINICA Creators Council
Hybrid Filmmaking™
Artificial intelligence, immersive technologies and storyworld economies, joined into a single cinematic pipeline. Hybrid Filmmaking™ is how CINICA teaches, funds and produces the next generation of Indian cinema.
In simple words: Hybrid Filmmaking™ mixes a real camera crew with computer made worlds and smart AI tools, so a small team can make a film that looks big, faster and at lower cost.
- Step 1
Story and world
Script, characters and lore are designed as a world from day one, ready for every format.
- Step 2
AI visualisation
Generative previs and concept art compress months of pre-production into weeks.
- Step 3
Virtual production
LED volumes and real-time engines put the finished world on set, in camera.
- Step 4
Performance capture
Motion and facial capture turn performance into data that can live in film, games and XR.
- Step 5
Every screen
One production feeds cinema, OTT, games, immersive venues and fan economies.
Intellectual property notice. Hybrid Filmmaking™, its framework, curriculum architecture and methodology are the intellectual property of CINICA Creators Council. Copyright registration has been filed with the Copyright Office, Government of India. Licensing and institutional adoption: info@cinica.org.
06
Track 06
Opportunities
Open calls. Pick one and step in today.
Open calls
Step through the gateway.
Every opportunity CINICA runs, in one place. Choose one and the enquiry form fills itself in for you.
In simple words: Pick what you want to do with us, click it, and the form at the bottom fills itself in. We reply within two working days.
Applications open
Creator Fellowship
Twelve months of funded creative development for exceptional talent across all seven worlds.
Apply or enquire 12 & 13 Dec 2026Cinematica Expo® 2026
Exhibit, speak, showcase a project or volunteer at the capstone convergence expo in Hyderabad.
Apply or enquire Register interestCINICATHON, next edition
Bring a team to the creative-tech olympics. Hackathons, creator battles and startup showcases.
Apply or enquire Phase twoHost Frames of Founders
Bring the one-day founder programme to your district, campus or institution.
Apply or enquire RollingLab residencies
Hands-on time in the AI cinema, virtual production, capture, XR and storyworld labs.
Apply or enquire Register interestCINICA 8th Cohort
A Creative DeepTech accelerator on a non-equity seed grant model, for founders building tools and studios.
Apply or enquire Always openMentors & volunteers
Share your craft with emerging creators at labs, programmes and Cinematica Expo.
Apply or enquire Always openCSR & institutional partners
Co-design labs, cohorts, skilling and Hybrid Film City with our partnerships team.
Apply or enquireWays in
Find your way into CINICA.
Creators
Join the creator network for labs, fellowships, CINICATHON and showcase slots at Cinematica Expo.
Join the networkGovernment & institutions
Co-design skilling, centres of excellence and policy programmes with our team.
Start a partnershipIndustry & CSR
Sponsor labs, zones and cohorts, hire talent and pilot technology with studios.
Talk to our teamPatrons
Take a founding position in India's creative economy through one of five patron circles.
See patron circles07
Track 07
Research
The big ideas we bring to government and industry.
Gateways
The government, the world and the awards.
Most creators never use the support that already exists for them. This is your map: which ministries help, which official websites to use, and the step by step road to national, state and international awards, including the Oscars.
In simple words: government websites are where you register your business, protect your ideas, get filming permissions, apply for funds and enter awards. Knowing them saves months.
01Ministries that matter to creators
Direct works with creative industries every day Indirect supports creators as businesses
The home ministry for film, TV, OTT, radio, animation and gaming. Runs film awards, festivals, censorship, filming permissions and the AVGC push.
Guardian of India's heritage, arts and archives: the source material of Indigenous IP, plus fellowships, grants and academies.
Protects your ideas and recognises your startup: patents, designs, trademarks, GI Tags and copyright, plus Startup India benefits.
Turns a creative practice into a recognised business, with access to credit, schemes and government buying.
Digital infrastructure, AI and tech parks that power animation, VFX, gaming and XR studios.
Certified skills for creative jobs, from camera to animation to sound, and entrepreneurship support.
Supports artisans and GI crafts such as Kondapalli, Nirmal and Cheriyal. Natural partners for heritage storyworlds and merchandise.
Cultural diplomacy, international exchanges and film tourism that take Indian stories and locations to the world.
02How to win awards, step by step
India's highest film honours, given by the Government of India through NFDC: the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) and Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus).
- 01Make an eligible film
An Indian production, with Indian nationals as key makers. Foreign co-productions must meet extra conditions in the regulations.
- 02Get CBFC certification in the award year
The film must be certified between 1 January and 31 December of the year the award covers. Books and articles can enter Best Writing on Cinema.
- 03Watch for the call for entries
NFDC announces entries each year, usually with the regulations, deadlines and online form on the official site.
- 04Producer submits online
Fill the form, upload documents (certificate, credits, synopsis), pay the fee if any, and send the screening copy as instructed.
- 05Jury screening
Independent juries for Feature, Non Feature and Writing on Cinema watch and decide. The government does not choose winners.
- 06Announcement and ceremony
Winners are announced and receive a medallion, certificate and cash prize from the President of India.
Most states honour films in their language. In Telangana, the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards are run by the state film development corporation.
- 01Check your state's scheme
Each state has its own awards, language rules and categories: feature, children's, short, documentary, books on cinema and more.
- 02Meet the certification window
Usually the film must be CBFC certified within the award year. Telangana's 2025 edition, for example, covered films certified between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
- 03Apply when entries open
Announcements come from the state film development corporation or culture department, with forms, documents and deadlines.
- 04Submit copies and papers
Certificate, credits, cast and crew details and a screening copy, exactly as the notification asks.
- 05Jury and ceremony
A state jury selects winners, followed by a state ceremony.
The festival route builds reputation, finds sales agents and leads to other awards, including the Oscars.
- 01Pick the right festivals
Match your film to festivals by format and level: A list features, documentary, animation (Annecy), shorts. FIAPF lists accredited festivals.
- 02Prepare the package
English subtitles, a screener link, synopsis, director's statement, stills and a trailer. Most festivals want world or regional premieres.
- 03Submit before deadlines
Use the festival's own site or approved platforms. Fees and early deadlines vary.
- 04Go to the market
Film Bazaar, Marché du Film, the European Film Market and MIPCOM connect you to buyers, coproducers and funds.
- 05Keep winning
Top prizes at certain festivals can qualify a film for other awards, including the Oscars.
There are two doors for Indian films: the general categories, and the International Feature Film category.
- 01Door 1: India's official entry
For International Feature Film, the Film Federation of India invites producers to apply each year. For the 99th Oscars the release window was 15 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, with a run of at least seven consecutive days in a commercial theatre. A jury picks one film.
- 02Door 1, alternative route
From the 99th Oscars, a non English film can also qualify by winning a top prize at Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance (World Cinema Grand Jury Prize), Toronto (Platform) or Venice.
- 03Door 2: general categories
Any feature can compete for Best Picture, Director, Actor and other awards with a qualifying US theatrical run in the calendar year: seven days in one of six US metro areas (Los Angeles County, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas Fort Worth).
- 04Best Picture needs more
An expanded release in 10 of the top 50 US markets, two of which can be international markets, plus inclusion standards.
- 05Shorts and documentaries
Short films often qualify by winning at an Academy qualifying festival. Submit by the Academy's deadlines.
- 06Campaign, then voting
Submit the Academy's forms, follow its campaign rules, screen for members, and wait for nominations and the final vote.
Award rules change every year. Always read the current regulations on the official website before you apply. CINICA's team can help you plan a festival and awards strategy.
03Global gateways
WIPOWorld Intellectual Property Organization: global IP rules and international filings.UNESCO Creative CitiesA global network of cities that use creativity for development.Marché du FilmThe film market at Cannes, for sales and coproduction.European Film MarketThe market at the Berlinale.MIPCOMThe leading market for TV and streaming content.NFDC Film BazaarSouth Asia's film market, held alongside IFFI in Goa.
Official directory
Every official door, in one place.
96 government departments, regulators, industry bodies, festivals and global agencies that matter to the creative industries, in India and around the world. Tap any card to open the official website.
India · Central Government12
Ministry of Information and BroadcastingFilm, broadcasting, AVGC policy, film awards and festivalsmib.gov.in ↗Ministry of CultureHeritage, arts, cultural grants and academiesindiaculture.gov.in ↗Ministry of Electronics and ITDigital India, AI mission, technology programmesmeity.gov.in ↗Dept for Promotion of Industry and Internal TradeStartup recognition, IP policy, investmentdpiit.gov.in ↗Ministry of MSMEUdyam, credit and support schemes for small businessesmsme.gov.in ↗Ministry of Skill Development and EntrepreneurshipSkilling programmes and entrepreneurshipmsde.gov.in ↗Ministry of TourismFilm tourism and destination promotiontourism.gov.in ↗Ministry of TextilesHandicrafts, handlooms and craft clusterstexmin.nic.in ↗Ministry of External AffairsCultural diplomacy and India abroadmea.gov.in ↗Ministry of EducationHigher education and creative curriculaeducation.gov.in ↗IndiaAI MissionNational AI compute, datasets and programmesindiaai.gov.in ↗Invest IndiaNational investment promotion agencyinvestindia.gov.in ↗
India · IP, Registration and Regulation8
Intellectual Property IndiaPatents, designs, trademarks and GI Registryipindia.gov.in ↗Copyright OfficeRegister copyright for films, music, scripts, art and softwarecopyright.gov.in ↗Central Board of Film CertificationFilm certification for theatrical releasecbfcindia.gov.in ↗Startup IndiaDPIIT startup recognition and benefitsstartupindia.gov.in ↗Udyam RegistrationFree MSME registrationudyamregistration.gov.in ↗NGO DarpanRegistration portal for NGOs and non profitsngodarpan.gov.in ↗Directorate General of Foreign TradeIEC and export incentivesdgft.gov.in ↗Income Tax Department12A and 80G registration for charitiesincometax.gov.in ↗
India · Film, Media and Culture Bodies14
National Film Development CorporationFilm Bazaar, co production, film facilitationnfdcindia.com ↗Film BazaarSouth Asia's film market at IFFI Goafilmbazaarindia.com ↗International Film Festival of IndiaIndia's national film festival in Goaiffigoa.org ↗Mumbai International Film FestivalDocumentary, short and animation festivalmiff.in ↗National Film Archive of IndiaFilm heritage and preservationnfaindia.org ↗Prasar BharatiPublic broadcaster: Doordarshan and Akashvaniprasarbharati.gov.in ↗Film and Television Institute of IndiaFilm education, Puneftii.ac.in ↗Satyajit Ray Film and Television InstituteFilm education, Kolkatasrfti.ac.in ↗Sangeet Natak AkademiMusic, dance and dramasangeetnatak.gov.in ↗Lalit Kala AkademiVisual artslalitkala.gov.in ↗Sahitya AkademiLiterature in Indian languagessahitya-akademi.gov.in ↗Indira Gandhi National Centre for the ArtsArts research and documentationignca.gov.in ↗Development Commissioner HandicraftsCraft schemes and artisan supporthandicrafts.nic.in ↗Indian Council for Cultural RelationsCultural exchange and scholarshipsiccr.gov.in ↗
India · Export, Startups and Technology7
Services Export Promotion CouncilExport promotion for services including mediaservicesepc.org ↗Export Promotion Council for HandicraftsCraft exports and global fairsepch.in ↗Federation of Indian Export OrganisationsExporter support and market accessfieo.org ↗Software Technology Parks of IndiaTech incubation and export unitsstpi.in ↗MeitY Startup HubNational tech startup platformmeitystartuphub.in ↗Atal Innovation MissionIncubators and innovation programmesaim.gov.in ↗Small Industries Development Bank of IndiaFinance and fund of funds for MSMEssidbi.in ↗
India · Skills and Education6
Skill India DigitalNational skilling platformskillindiadigital.gov.in ↗National Skill Development CorporationSkilling partnerships and fundingnsdcindia.org ↗Media and Entertainment Skills CouncilSector skill council for media and AVGCmescindia.org ↗National Council for Vocational Education and TrainingQualification regulatorncvet.gov.in ↗All India Council for Technical EducationTechnical and design educationaicte.gov.in ↗University Grants CommissionHigher education standardsugc.gov.in ↗
India · Industry Bodies9
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and IndustryMedia and entertainment committee, FRAMESficci.in ↗Confederation of Indian IndustryIndustry policy and AVGC forumscii.in ↗NASSCOMTechnology industry body and gaming forumsnasscom.in ↗Film Federation of IndiaNational federation of film bodiesfilmfed.org ↗Producers Guild of IndiaFilm and television producersproducersguildindia.com ↗Indian Performing Right SocietyMusic royalties for authors and composersiprs.org ↗Phonographic Performance LimitedLicensing of sound recordingspplindia.org ↗Indian Music IndustryMusic labels associationindianmi.org ↗T-HubInnovation hub, Hyderabadt-hub.co ↗
International · Multilateral4
UNESCO Creative Cities NetworkCities using creativity for developmentunesco.org ↗UNCTAD Creative Economy ProgrammeCreative economy data and tradeunctad.org ↗World Intellectual Property OrganizationGlobal IP system and creative industrieswipo.int ↗International Federation of Film Producers AssociationsAccredits international film festivalsfiapf.org ↗
International · Governments and Agencies21
UK Department for Culture, Media and SportUK creative industries policygov.uk ↗British Film InstituteUK film funding and Global Screen Fundbfi.org.uk ↗British CouncilUK cultural relations and arts programmesbritishcouncil.org ↗US National Endowment for the ArtsUS federal arts grantsarts.gov ↗US Copyright OfficeUS copyright registrationcopyright.gov ↗US Patent and Trademark OfficeUS patents and trademarksuspto.gov ↗Creative EuropeEU programme for culture and audiovisualculture.ec.europa.eu ↗EurimagesCouncil of Europe co production fundcoe.int ↗European Audiovisual ObservatoryData on European film and mediaobs.coe.int ↗EU Intellectual Property OfficeEU trademarks and designseuipo.europa.eu ↗Dubai Culture and Arts AuthorityCulture and creative economy in Dubaidubaiculture.gov.ae ↗UAE Ministry of CultureCulture policy across the UAEmcy.gov.ae ↗twofour54 Abu DhabiMedia zone and film incentivestwofour54.com ↗CNC FranceFrench national centre for cinemacnc.fr ↗Telefilm CanadaCanadian film fundingtelefilm.ca ↗Canada Media FundCanadian screen and digital media fundingcmf-fmc.ca ↗Screen AustraliaAustralian screen fundingscreenaustralia.gov.au ↗New Zealand Film CommissionNZ film funding and incentivesnzfilm.co.nz ↗Korea Creative Content AgencyKorean content industry supportkocca.kr ↗Korean Film CouncilKorean film supportkofic.or.kr ↗Singapore IMDAMedia and digital developmentimda.gov.sg ↗
International · Awards, Festivals and Markets15
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesThe Oscars and their rulesoscars.org ↗BAFTABritish film, games and TV awardsbafta.org ↗International Emmy AwardsGlobal television awardsiemmys.tv ↗Recording AcademyThe GRAMMYsgrammy.com ↗Festival de CannesFestival and Marché du Filmfestival-cannes.com ↗Marché du FilmLargest film market in the worldmarchedufilm.com ↗BerlinaleBerlin festival and European Film Marketberlinale.de ↗La Biennale di VeneziaVenice film festivallabiennale.org ↗Toronto International Film FestivalFestival and industry hubtiff.net ↗Sundance Film FestivalIndependent filmfestival.sundance.org ↗Annecy FestivalAnimation festival and MIFA marketannecy.org ↗Busan International Film FestivalAsia's leading festivalbiff.kr ↗MIPCOM CannesGlobal TV and content marketmipcom.com ↗SIGGRAPHComputer graphics and interactive techniquessiggraph.org ↗Game Developers ConferenceGlobal game industry eventgdconf.com ↗
No match. Try a simpler word like film, music, export or tax.
For public information only. These links point to official websites so visitors can find the right authority quickly. Listing does not mean CINICA is affiliated with, endorsed by or partnered with any organisation. All names belong to their owners. Official logos and national emblems are not reproduced here, as many may only be used with permission. Directory compiled October 2026; websites change, so always confirm details on the official site.
Research & insights
Frameworks that shape policy.
CINICA's research gives governments, institutions and investors a shared language for the creative economy. Full papers are available to partners on request.
In simple words: Our research turns the creative economy into simple models and numbers, so governments and investors can decide where to help.
Hybrid Filmmaking™ Framework
AI · Immersive technologies · Storyworld economies
Hybrid Filmmaking™ Framework
AI · Immersive technologies · Storyworld economiesCINICA's proprietary framework for a single cinematic pipeline, from story and AI visualisation through virtual production and capture to every screen. It defines where authorship, credit and value sit at each stage.
See the pipelineIPR of CINICA Creators Council
FILM Lifecycle Model
From first idea to lasting IP
FILM Lifecycle Model
From first idea to lasting IPMaps a film project as a lifecycle of assets rather than a one-off release, so every stage is planned for reuse, licensing and long-term income.
Six Mantra Strategy
A lens for IP-driven cinema
Six Mantra Strategy
A lens for IP-driven cinemaSix principles CINICA applies to IP-driven films, AI and AVGC-XR decisions.
Small is beautifulOrganic bountyPolitical correctnessInvest in purposeInnocent marketingIt's in the marketing
IMAGE 2.0 Blueprint
An eight-pillar national consortium model
IMAGE 2.0 Blueprint
An eight-pillar national consortium modelA blueprint for a national centre of excellence in animation, gaming, VFX and immersive media, built as a consortium of government, academia, industry and startups.
Future skills pathways
Skills-aligned creator qualifications
Future skills pathways
Skills-aligned creator qualificationsQualification pathways in Hybrid Filmmaking, AVGC-XR, AI-native cinema and creative entrepreneurship, designed with national skilling bodies.
08
Track 08
Cinematica
The expo and the hackathon where everyone meets.
Capstone edition · 12 & 13 December 2026 · Hyderabad
Cinematica Expo®
The convergence expo for the future of cinema. Every storytelling industry on one floor: creators, studios, technology, capital, policy and international delegations.
In simple words: Cinematica Expo® is a two day fair where everyone who makes stories for screens meets in one place: creators, studios, tech companies, investors and government.
Zone A1
27 June 2026 · International MSME Day · NI-MSME, Hyderabad
CINICATHON 2026
Where creativity becomes enterprise.
27.06MSME Day 2026
4Knowledge sessions
4Award categories
1Unified ecosystem
01A Union Minister opensHybrid Filmmaking and original IP endorsed from the national stage.
02Four knowledge sessionsThe complete creator's journey, from IP to community.
03Awards with a thesisWinners in four categories, judged on IP potential.
04A framework goes publicThe Hybrid Filmmaking Program: craft, AI, virtual production, immersive media and business.
05An institution is bornThe Cine Creators Organisation launches as standing community infrastructure.
06Momentum, scheduledA defined pathway from CINICATHON to Cinematica Expo® on 12 & 13 December 2026.
CINICATHON 2026 · Where creativity becomes enterprise
A Union Minister opens the creators' hackathon.
On 27 June 2026, International MSME Day, CINICATHON brought filmmakers, creators, students, AI innovators, investors, academia and government together at NI-MSME, Hyderabad. Its proposition: India's creators must graduate from service providers to creative entrepreneurs.
In simple words: A one day event where filmmakers, students, tech builders, investors and officials sat together, learned from experts and started building projects.
“The future of filmmaking lies in Hybrid Filmmaking: creativity integrated with DeepTech, virtual production, real-time technologies and the AVGC-XR ecosystem.”
Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon'ble Union Minister for Coal & Mines, as reported
In collaboration with NI-MSMEPresented by Cinematica Expo®Innovation partner · Hornbill StudiosAcademy partner · DIGIQUEST
Four knowledge sessions
- 01The future of the AVGC-XR ecosystem with DeepTech and IPIntellectual property will become India's most valuable creative asset.
- 02Hybrid Filmmaking, virtual production and emerging technologiesCrafts evolve, not dissolve. The storyteller stays at the centre.
- 03Startups, government grants and scaling creative businessesLed by NI-MSME on MSME pathways, Startup India, incubation and funding.
- 04Creators hub and collaborative creative communitiesLaunch of the Cine Creators Organisation as standing community infrastructure.
The awards, judged on IP potential
Hybrid FilmmakingAnimation & VFXGamingComics & Digital Storytelling
Winning teams were felicitated by the Union Minister. The activation pathway leads from CINICATHON to Cinematica Expo® 2026 on 12 & 13 December.
“CINICATHON is a powerful platform that connects creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering India's next generation of creative entrepreneurs.”
Dr. Ashutosh A. Murkute, Director General, NI-MSME
09
Track 09
Community
Your people: mentors, members and your Creator Pass.
Creator network
Create. Connect. Grow.
CINICA's community spans filmmakers, animators, developers, artists, founders and mentors across India. At CINICATHON 2026 it gained a permanent home: the Cine Creators Organisation, standing infrastructure for mentorship, networking, representation and collaboration.
In simple words: Join the community to meet people like you, find collaborators and hear first about open calls and events.
Cine Creators OrganisationLaunched at CINICATHON 2026 as the creators' standing body.
MentorshipWorking professionals paired with emerging creators after every programme.
District reach1,081 founders met through Frames of Founders across Telangana.
ShowcaseA stage at Cinematica Expo® for work built in the network.
Patron circles
Giving here builds permanent capability.
Contributions fund labs, fellowships, scholarships and regional talent programmes. CINICA is registered under Sections 12A and 80G and on NGO Darpan, so contributions are eligible for 80G tax benefits, and every patron receives an annual impact report.
12A · 80G · NGO Darpan RegisteredDPIIT Startup India · IEC · Udyam · 80G tax benefitBegin the conversation
The Creator Code
Five lines. One movement.
- II own what I create.
- III learn the tools. I don’t fear them.
- IIII build a business, not just a portfolio.
- IVI lift the next creator up with me.
- VI make work India is proud of and the world wants.
If you read these and nodded, you are already one of us. Make your pass, then make it official.
Creator Pass · 2026
Your Name
Film creator
PassCCC-26-0000
Rise from creator
to creative entrepreneur
to creative entrepreneur
Newsroom
Latest from CINICA.
Highlights from our LinkedIn and Instagram, plus articles that explain the creative economy in plain words.
LiveNew posts appear here the moment the CINICA team publishes them.
Frames of Founders 2026
Nine districts. One month. 1,081 founders reached across Telangana with one programme on creative industries entrepreneurship. Thank you to every district team, mentor and founder who showed up.
CINICATHON 2026
On International MSME Day, filmmakers, students, AI innovators, investors, academia and government came together at CINICATHON. Hybrid Filmmaking™ was unveiled with five pillars and five leads.
Cinematica Expo® 2026 is coming
12 & 13 December, Hyderabad. Every storytelling industry on one floor: film, animation, VFX, gaming, comics, music, XR and AI. Exhibitors, partners and creators, get on the list now.
What is Hybrid Filmmaking™, in plain words?
A simple guide to the method that lets a small Indian team make a film that looks big.
Nine districts, one month: what Frames of Founders showed us
Talent is everywhere in Telangana. Access is not. Here is what changed when we took one programme to nine districts.
Why Bharat can be the world's next storyworld capital
India holds thousands of years of stories. The world is hungry for new ones. Here is how the two meet.
Music is a business too: five first steps for independent artists
Every song you make can earn for years, if you set it up right from day one.
For investors, universities and global platforms
Where India's next creative companies are formed.
CINICA connects talent, technology, IP and markets in one pipeline. For a venture fund that means earlier access. For a university or business school it means a living case study. For a pitch platform it means founders with real products and real stories.
Policy tailwind
India has made AVGC-XR, creative technology and the orange economy national priorities, with new centres, missions and global summits.
Cost curve is breaking
Real time engines, virtual production and responsible AI are cutting the cost and time of making world class content.
Untapped IP
Thousands of years of Indian stories, languages and GI tagged crafts are still largely unbuilt as global franchises.
Talent at scale
Millions of engineers and young creators are ready to move into creative tech, given the right path.
01The CINICA founder pipeline
- 01DiscoverCreator Academy, outreach in districts and colleges
- 02BuildInnovation labs: AI, virtual production, mocap, XR
- 03ValidateCINICATHON: teams ship real prototypes
- 04ShowcaseFounder showcase at Cinematica Expo®
- 05ScaleInvestors, studios, universities and markets
02Choose how you partner
Early, curated access to India's creative tech and IP led startups.
01What you get
- Curated deal flow from CINICATHON, Frames of Founders and our labs
- IP first startups: copyright, trademark and design filings tracked from day one
- A founder showcase and investor meetings at Cinematica Expo®, 12 & 13 December
- A thesis lens on storyworlds, creative AI, virtual production and creator tools
02How it works
- Join the Investor Circle with a short thesis note
- Receive a startup brief before each showcase
- Meet shortlisted founders in private sessions
- Mentor or judge at CINICATHON to see teams early
03What founders bring you
- Registered entities and clear cap tables
- Documented IP and rights chains
- Working prototypes, not slide decks
- Teams trained in pitching and storytelling
A live laboratory for the creative economy, ready for teaching and research.
01What you get
- Case studies on Hybrid Filmmaking™, creative IP and storyworld economics
- Research partnerships on creative economy, AI in media and GI led storytelling
- Student immersions, internships and live projects in labs and at the Expo
- Executive education for media, culture and technology leaders
02How it works
- Sign a memorandum of understanding for a defined programme
- Co design a case, course module or research question
- Bring a student cohort or faculty fellow to CINICA labs
- Showcase outcomes at Cinematica Expo® and in joint papers
03Why it matters
- Few ecosystems combine policy, craft, technology and enterprise in one place
- Access to founders, artists and engineers working on real projects
- A bridge to India's states, institutions and creative industries
- Joint visibility with a global creative community
Founders who can tell their own story, on screen and on stage.
01What you get
- A pipeline of founders with real products and strong stories
- Creative industries founders from tier 2 and tier 3 India, not just metros
- Pitch ready teams coached through CINICATHON and Frames of Founders
- Showcase partnerships at Cinematica Expo®
02How it works
- Share your format, criteria and calendar
- We shortlist founders who match your brief
- Founders prepare with CINICA mentors
- Joint showcases and follow up support
03Our promise
- No paid placements
- Clear consent from every founder
- Honest metrics only
- Long term support after the show
03Partner ready from day one
- Section 8 non profit company
- 12A and 80G registered
- NGO Darpan registered
- DPIIT Startup India recognised
- IEC and Udyam registered
- SEPC member
- Hybrid Filmmaking™, our own IP
- Dedicated verticals: AVGC, emerging technologies, education
Start a conversation
Tell us who you are and what you want to build together. We share a partner brief and respond within two working days.
We list a university, fund or platform as a partner only after an agreement is signed.
For governments, embassies and institutions
India's creative economy partner, for the world.
CINICA Creators Council works at the meeting point of creators, industry and government. We welcome partnerships with national governments, embassies, film commissions, multilateral and cultural institutions, universities and investors who want a trusted, registered partner in India's film, AVGC-XR and creative technology economy.
01Ways to work with us
Government to government and policy
Creative economy policy dialogue, AVGC and IP frameworks, and knowledge partnerships with national, state and city governments.
Typical outcomeMoU, joint white paper, policy roundtable
Film commissions and production incentives
Connecting foreign film commissions and production offices with Indian producers, studios and service companies, and India's own incentive schemes.
Typical outcomeLocation partnerships, incentive briefings
Coproduction and market access
Matching Indian IP with international coproducers, distributors and platforms, using official coproduction treaties where they apply.
Typical outcomeCoproduction slate, market delegation
Skills and education exchanges
Creator exchanges, masterclasses, residencies and joint curricula in virtual production, animation, games and AI.
Typical outcomeExchange programme, joint certificate
Cultural diplomacy and heritage
Heritage storytelling, GI craft storyworlds and festival showcases that carry Indian culture abroad and bring world culture to India.
Typical outcomeCountry showcase, cultural season
Investment, CSR and philanthropy
Structured routes for foundations, corporates and investors to back creators, labs and Indigenous IP with transparency.
Typical outcomeFund partnership, CSR programme
02Partnership desks
Dedicated points of contact for delegations and institutions from:
- United StatesFederal and state agencies, film commissions, universities and studios
- United Arab Emirates and DubaiGovernment entities, media zones, film commissions and investors
- United KingdomGovernment departments, screen agencies, the British Council and universities
- European Union and Council of Europe membersCultural institutions, coproduction funds and creative hubs
- Gulf, Asia Pacific and AfricaFilm commissions, festivals, markets and creative economy ministries
- Indian Union and State GovernmentsMinistries, missions, state film and AVGC policy bodies
Cinematica Expo® 2026 on 12 & 13 December in Hyderabad offers country pavilions, B2B meetings and G2G sessions for visiting delegations.
03Verify us
- Legal form
- Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013 (not for profit)
- Tax registrations
- Section 12A and Section 80G, Income-tax Act, 1961
- NGO Darpan
- Registered on the NITI Aayog portal
- DPIIT
- Recognised under Startup India
- IEC
- Importer Exporter Code, Directorate General of Foreign Trade
- Udyam
- Registered with the Ministry of MSME
- SEPC
- Member, Services Export Promotion Council
- Registered office
- Seat 4F-226A, T-Hub, Madhapur, Hyderabad 500032, Telangana, India
Official channels. Only these represent CINICA Creators Council:
Websitewww.cinica.orgEmailinfo@cinica.orgLinkedInCINICA Creators CouncilInstagram@cinicacreatorscouncil
CINICA never asks for payments to personal accounts. Registration certificates and governance documents are shared with partners on request.
Plain answers
Jargon buster & FAQ.
The creative industry loves big words. Here is what they actually mean, and answers to the questions people ask us most.
A to ZWords you will see on this site
- IP (Intellectual Property)
- Ownership of an idea, story, character or song. If you own the IP, you earn every time it is used.
- AVGC-XR
- Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality. The government name for the digital creative industries.
- Virtual production
- Filming actors in front of giant LED screens showing a computer made world, instead of travelling to real locations.
- Motion capture (mocap)
- A suit with sensors records how an actor moves, so a digital character can move exactly the same way.
- Previs
- A rough animated version of a film made before shooting, to plan every shot and save money.
- XR (VR and AR)
- Virtual and augmented reality. Stories you step into with a headset or see layered on the real world through a phone.
- Storyworld
- A full universe of characters, places and rules that can hold many films, games and books, not just one story.
- Hybrid Filmmaking™
- CINICA's own method that joins real filmmaking, virtual production and AI tools into one workflow.
- GI Tag (Geographical Indication)
- A government registration that says a product comes from a specific place and community, like Kondapalli Bommalu or Pochampally Ikat. Only that community may use the name.
- Copyright
- Automatic ownership of creative work: stories, scripts, art, music, films. Registering it makes it easier to prove.
- Trademark
- A registered name, logo or symbol that identifies who makes a product, such as a film title or character brand.
- Design registration
- Protection for the shape and look of a product, such as a toy or figurine. Often called a design patent.
- Patent
- Protection for a new invention or technical process, for up to 20 years.
- Sync licensing
- Getting paid when your music is used in a film, ad, game or show.
- Section 8 company
- A company set up in India for a social purpose. It cannot pay profits to owners; everything goes back into the mission.
- 12A and 80G
- Tax registrations. 12A means our income is tax exempt; 80G means people who donate to us can claim a tax deduction.
- DPIIT and Startup India
- Government recognition for innovative organisations, which opens access to schemes and support.
- IEC
- Importer Exporter Code. It lets us work with, and receive payments from, partners outside India.
- Udyam
- Registration with the Ministry of MSME, the government department for small and medium businesses.
FAQQuestions people ask us
Do I need experience to join?
No. Many members start with only an idea. Our programmes begin from basics and grow with you.
Is CINICA a film school?
No. We are not a school or an agency. We are a non-profit council that helps creators learn, build and own their work, with partners for training, labs and funding.
Will CINICA own my story or idea?
No. Work you create in our programmes stays yours unless a separate written agreement says otherwise. Protecting creator ownership is the reason we exist.
I am not in Hyderabad. Can I take part?
Yes. Frames of Founders ran in nine districts, and many programmes and the community work online. Tell us where you are in the form below.
What does it cost?
It depends on the programme. Several open calls are free. Ask about any programme through the form and we will tell you clearly.
How do I donate, and is it tax deductible?
CINICA is registered under 12A and 80G, so eligible donations can be claimed under Section 80G. Choose Patron circles in the form and we will guide you.
I run a studio or company. How can we work together?
Through co-productions, lab partnerships, hiring from our talent network, sponsorship at Cinematica Expo® or CSR partnerships. Choose Partnership in the form.
When is Cinematica Expo® 2026?
12 and 13 December 2026 in Hyderabad. Use "Get on the list" at the top of the page to hear first.
Contact
Build the next world with us.
Foundations, studios, governments, universities, founders and creators: tell us what you want to build and we will reply within two working days.
Emailinfo@cinica.org
Webwww.cinica.org
OfficeSeat 4F-226A, T-Hub, Madhapur, Hyderabad
Follow CINICA
CCC · Level 4 · Seat 4F-226A Our office · T-Hub, Hyderabad
Find us inside T-Hub.
Look for the stacked grey building with the red T-Hub roundel on Inorbit Mall Road, Madhapur. CINICA Creators Council works from Seat 4F-226A on the fourth floor.
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T-HUBHyderabad
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OfficeCCC
CINICA Creators Council
Seat 4F-226A, T-Hub
20, Inorbit Mall Rd, Vittal Rao Nagar, Madhapur
Hyderabad, Telangana 500032