AniMela, India’s first festival celebrating the worlds of Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR), announced that acclaimed filmmaker Kiran Rao has joined its Board of Advisors. Her addition brings fresh momentum to a festival that is rapidly redefining the future of creative technology in India.
Founded by Anne Doshi and Archana Trasy, and led by Festival Director Nina Sabnani, AniMela has become a vibrant platform for creators, technologists, studios, and storytellers from across the globe.
Kiran Rao shared her excitement:
“I look forward to working with AniMela, a festival that nurtures imagination, spotlights emerging talent and innovations in transmedia, and embraces the future of storytelling. This is exactly the kind of platform Indian creators deserve, to showcase their art and connect with the AVGC-XR industry globally.”
Rao joins an extraordinary Board of Advisors, including leaders such as Annecy CEO Mickaël Marin, Graphiti Studio’s Munjal Shroff, Assemblage Cinesite’s Arjun Madhavan, and Kaboom Film Festival’s Aneta Ozorek, whose combined expertise guides AniMela as a world-class festival for artistic and technological innovation.
Festival Co-Founder Archana Trasy stated:
“AniMela breaks the silos of creative communities where filmmakers meet gamers, animators meet technologists and Kiran’s guidance will help lead the next wave in storytelling.”
Co-Founder Anne Doshi added:
“AniMela brings together creators pushing the boundaries of animation, gaming, comics, VFX and XR, ensuring their work is seen, challenged, and celebrated on a global stage.”
AniMela’s impact is strengthened by partnerships with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and global institutions including Annecy International Animation Film Festival & MIFA, the French Institute in India, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology, home to India’s first Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR. These alliances ensure AniMela is both global in reach and deeply rooted in India’s creative ecosystem.
With Kiran Rao’s vision and commitment to fearless storytelling, AniMela is poised to amplify new voices, strengthen India’s creative-tech ecosystem, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the AVGC-XR world.