Dimpy Agrawal‘s Gubbara Entertainment has unveiled a $1 million script development fund aimed at empowering Indian feature filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival‘s market.
Agrawal previously served as a producer at Netflix India and her credits include some of the streamer’s top titles from the territory such as Zoya Akhtar’s “The Archies,” Vishal Bharwaj’s “Khufiya,” Vasan Bala’s “Monica, O My Darling” and Ajay Singh’s “Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga.” She has had prior stints at Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Phantom Productions. Gubbara was launched in early 2023.
The fund is a significant move for India where spec scripts are the norm and development funds are in their infancy. It is designed to provide support to both emerging and established talent, offering financial assistance to develop narratives that have the potential to travel worldwide.
Agrawal said: “At Gubbara Entertainment, we recognize the transformative influence of storytelling. Our mission with this development fund is to champion diverse voices and narratives in cinema, resonating locally and globally. As young members of the film fraternity, we were eager to be the change we aspire to see, thus giving birth to the idea of this development fund.”
Alongside her team, Agrawal is additionally exploring co-productions across a seven-film slate developed internally, at Cannes. Also being developed is a long-form scripted and unscripted content slate.
“We have vigorously been building our slate and are excited to put them on floors soon. In Cannes, we are looking to move forward with our conversations on a few co-productions currently under discussion,” said Agrawal.
Separately, Gubbara is working with Indian talents including Varun Grover (Rotterdam title “All India Rank”), noted editor Nitin Baid (Berlinale selection “Gully Boy”) who is turning director, and Riddhi Talreja (short “Sadak Chaap”), among others.
The Gubbara team also includes creative producer Ashish Sehgal (“Brahmastra Part One: Shiva”), Talreja, who serves as creative director, and consulting producer Dipa De Motwane (Cannes selection “Masaan”).
Source Agencies
