Filmmaker Kiran Rao Joins AniMela Festival Board Of Advisors, Igniting New Energy into the AVGC–XR Festival
AniMela, India’s first festival celebrating the extraordinary worlds of Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality, in a statement announced that acclaimed filmmaker Kiran Rao has joined its Board of Advisors. Her arrival brings a fresh wave of momentum to a festival that is rapidly redefining the future of creative technology in India.
Conceived with passion by founders Anne Doshi and Archana Trasy, and now led by Festival Director Nina Sabnani, the festival has quickly become a vibrant home for creators, students, technologists, studios, and storytellers from around the world.
Sharing her excitement about joining the festival, Kiran Rao said “I look forward with excitement 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 whose collective vision and expertise guide the festival’s direction. The board brings together leaders from across the animation, filmmaking, production, and festival landscape, including Annecy CEO Mickaël Marin, Graphiti Studio’s Munjal Shroff, Assemblage–Cinesite’s Arjun Madhavan, creative consultant and executive producer Ashima Avasthi Chaudhuri, and Kaboom Film Festival’s artistic director Aneta Ozorek. Their combined experience continues to shape AniMela as a world-class platform for artistic and technological innovation.
Speaking about AniMela, Festival Co-Founder Archana Trasy said “For too long, our creative communities existed in silos. AniMela breaks those walls - it’s where filmmakers meet gamers, animators meet technologists, and those collaborations can change the face of AVGC-XR in India. We are happy to welcome Kiran on the board, to help lead and guide the next wave in storytelling. ”
“For me, AniMela brings together creators who are pushing the boundaries of animation, gaming, comics, VFX and XR because their work deserves to be seen, challenged and celebrated on a world stage.” Added Festival Co-Founder Anne Doshi.
AniMela’s growing impact is strengthened by powerful partnerships with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), as well as collaborations with global institutions including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival & MIFA, the French Institute in India, and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology, which hosts India’s first Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR. Together, these alliances are anchoring AniMela as a festival that is global in reach while deeply rooted in India’s creative culture.
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 is possible in the AVGC-XR world.
