Cininfo Launchpad Season 3

Having mentored 42 writers and filmmakers across its first two editions, Cininfo Launchpad returns for its third season to help participants elevate their projects through structured mentorship and industry exposure.To date, over 10 participants from Season 2 have progressed to discussions with producers and studios, reflecting the program’s growing industry impact.

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Program Overview

A pitching platform for filmmakers where mentors invest their craft, time, efforts and creators retain full control of their vision. With this powerful foundation, selected participants move forward to pitch to a curated panel of producers and investors.

After two successful seasons, Cininfo Launchpad Season 3 takes the next leap by shaping bold ideas into compelling, pitch-ready projects through hands-on mentorship and direct producer access.

Build It. Better It. Pitch It.

What is Cininfo Launchpad:

Cininfo Launchpad is a curated platform designed by Cininfo for filmmakers/writers/creators to submit their project (films/series) ideas or scripts.
Shortlisted and finalized participants will undergo intensive online mentoring and project development with the mentors.
After mentorship, all participants get to pitch their projects to leading industry producers.
The goal: to get you pitch-ready for producers, OTT platforms, Studios, and financiers.

Why you should apply?

Get mentored by top-tier industry experts
Strengthen your project idea and storytelling with expert guidance
Craft a pitch that speaks the industry’s language
Retain full creative control of your project
Get discovered by producers and platforms actively seeking new voices

Who can apply?

Open to all creative professionals — filmmakers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, and other storytellers with a compelling project.

Minimum Requirements:

A completed, registered script (Feature film and Web Series)
At least 2 years of active experience in the film, television, or digital content industry
A professional link to previous work (short film, feature film, web series, reel, etc).
Strong intent to pitch the project to producers, OTT platforms, or co-producers

Additional Details:

Geography: Open to applicants from across the globe
Language: Projects in any language are welcome – all written submissions must be in English or Hindi language. If your script contains non-English dialogue, please provide English translations.
Career Stage: Designed for professionals at every stage of their career.
Team or Individual:Both teams and individuals may apply, and co-writers are welcome. However, only one representative may participate in the program and represent the project throughout the selection process.

🌟 Ideal for creators looking for honest mentorship, collaborative feedback, and industry visibility 🌟

Eligibility & Application Process

This opportunity is open to writers, directors, filmmakers, DOPs, editors, screenwriters and content creators dedicated to crafting compelling screen narratives.

Eligibility Requirements:

Submission of only Feature film and Web Series shall be considered for evaluation. Also, anthology films will not be eligible.
All Cininfo active members and Cininfo non members (who have paid Launchpad application fee) can apply.
Only scripts registered with a valid authority, such as SWA, WGA, or Copyright Office will be eligible for submission.

Before You Apply, Ensure You Have:

A logline (upto 50 words)
A short synopsis (100–150 words)
A 1–2 episode screenplay for the Web Series (if selected for mentorship; it should be ready)
Story
A long story synopsis / Pitch Deck (6–10 pages)
A writer’s statement / director’s approach note (100–150 words)
A link to past work (film, showreel, or relevant material)
A registered script ready to share with mentors and producers, if shortlisted for the program

By making an application to Cininfo Launchpad, you acknowledge and agree that you have read the Terms & Conditions and you agree to be legally bound by the same. If you have queries, you may go through the Definitions & FAQs.

How to apply?

Application Process:

Step 1: Application Submission

Log in with your active Cininfo membership or Apply without Cininfo Membership.
Complete the application form with all required details and attach the necessary documents.

Step 2: Submission Review

The Cininfo Selection Panel will evaluate applications based on originality, potential, and project readiness.

Step 3: Interview Invitation

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted via email or WhatsApp for an online interview, as part of the final selection for the Cininfo Launchpad Mentorship and Producer Pitching.

Application

Candidates fill out the online application form.

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Shortlisting

Applications are reviewed and selected candidates are invited for interviews.

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Interview

Focused discussion on the project, clarity, vision, and candidate fit.

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Final Shortlist

Post-interview selection of committed participants.

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Fee Payment

Selected candidates confirm participation by completing payment.

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Mentorship

Online mentorship sessions with 4 industry mentors to refine the project.

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Pitching

Exclusive online one-on-one pitch presentation to producers.

What happens if I am selected?

All finalists who choose to proceed will take part in a minimum of 10 hours, extending up to 15 hours, of online mentorship with our four mentors: Abhay Koranne, Devashish Makhija, Manas Mittal & Srishti Behl

The sessions will focus on story development, character, log line, synopsis, structure, creating a pitch deck, and preparing to pitch to producers.

Once your mentorship phase is complete, you will advance to the final stage: pitching your project directly to producers.

Participation Fee

All selected applicants moving forward to the mentorship and producer pitching stage will be required to pay a program mentorship & participation fee as specified by Cininfo (Details of the fee are mentioned in the Terms & Conditions).

The application, program mentorship & participation fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee, valid for one project only and shall not be returned under any circumstances, including but not limited to withdrawal, cancellation, or rejection of the application.

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Important Dates:

Applications Open: 7th July, 2026
Application Deadline: 10th August, 2026

Watch the Launchpad Live Session

Note: Enable caption and transcript while watching the video recording for better understanding.

MEET OUR ESTEEMED MENTORS

Srishti Behl (Producer, Founder – Starfish Stories & Former Netflix India Director, Original Films): Srishti Behl is a media entrepreneur, producer, and storyteller with over 30 years of experience across film, television, and digital entertainment. She has held leadership roles at Netflix India, Phantom Studios, and Rose Audio Visuals, giving her a unique perspective across the creative, commercial, and strategic sides of the industry. As both a content creator and executive, she has played a key role in developing, commissioning, financing, and marketing stories that connect with audiences at scale. Today, as the founder of Starfish Stories, Srishti explores the intersection of storytelling, audience insights, culture, and emerging technologies, including AI. She is a sought-after speaker on storytelling, leadership, cultural trends, and the evolving future of entertainment.

Devashish Makhija (Writer, Director & Producer): Devashish Makhija is a writer, director, producer whose films are defined by moral precision, restrained political indignation, and an unrestrained focus on marginalized voices. Ajji (2017), Bhonsle (2018), and Joram (2023) – all premiered at IFFR Rotterdam and BIFF Busan. Ajji won Best Film (New Blood) at the Beaune International Thriller Film Festival. Bhonsle won a National Award and an Asia Pacific Screen Award. Joram won two Filmfare and Film Critics Guild Awards. Joram’s screenplay was also acquired by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Library for permanent collection.

His short and feature films have competed and won awards at several international film festivals including Sydney, Chicago, Göteborg, Black Nights, Mooov, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Durban, Tampere, MOMA, Barcelona, Singapore, Kerala, Mumbai, and Dharamsala.

His multidisciplinary practice – filmmaker, author, poet, illustrator, performer – brings rigour, empathy, and narrative discipline to every project he produces or mentors.

Abhay Koranne (Screenwriter & Filmmaker): Abhay Koranne is an award winning Indian screenwriter and filmmaker, who was selected as breakthrough talent by BAFTA for 2023-24. His debut feature film was the superhero vigilante action-drama Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018), co-written with Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, and directed by Motwane, which found cult success on Netflix and Disney +Hotstar. Abhay also conceived and wrote the story concept for the hugely successful series Rocket Boys (2022), which won him an Indian Television Academy (ITA) award and a Screenwriter’s Association (SWA) award and a Filmfare OTT nomination for Best Story alongside Abhay Pannu.
He wrote the screenplay for the documentary Indi (r) a’s Emergency (2023) directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, that opened to rave reviews at the MAMI Mumbai film festival. Abhay created and wrote the hugely successful gritty, period crime series Matka King, for Amazon Prime Video and Roy Kapur Films.
Released in April 2026 to universal acclaim, Matka King became the #1 most watched show in 17 countries and earned a spot in the top 10 in 37 countries on the platform. Abhay has also written the Sourav Ganguly biopic Film, Dada, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and starring Rajkumar Rao that is currently filming. For his upcoming projects, Abhay will write and serve as show runner for the 2nd season of Matka King.

Manas Mittal (Editor): Manas Mittal, a graduate of the prestigious Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute and a Berlinale Talents alumnus. With over 15 years in the industry and a powerful portfolio spanning theatrical hits, global festival favourites, and streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, Manas brings an unmatched depth of experience to the table.His latest release are two Amazon Prime Video series titled RAAKH and The Pyramid Scheme.

OUR EXPERT PITCHDECK TRAINER

Anadi Athaley (Editor & Producer): Anadi Athaley is a national award winning film editor and producer based in Mumbai. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India specializing in Film Editing in 2014. Over the years he has edited feature films like Cactus Pears (2025), Borderlands (2021), Ralang Road (2017), The Unreserved (2017), Candyflip (2017) and short films including Holy Curse (2024), Detour (2017) and Daaravtha (2015).

INTRODUCING OUR DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER PANEL

Sarita Patil (Producer and Partner at Matchbox Shots): With over 32 years in content creation, Sarita has built and guided stories across feature films, television, and digital platforms in Hindi and regional languages. She has held senior leadership roles at leading production houses, most recently as Vice President at Viacom18 Motion Pictures, where she led content and production teams across formats. After completing the INSEAD Leadership Program for Senior Executives (2017–2018), she stepped into entrepreneurship as a Partner at Matchbox Shots, a boutique studio known for premium, story-driven work.

Shivani Saran (Producer): Shivani Saran is a Mumbai-based film producer known for building stories across languages and borders, with a strong track record in both independent and mainstream cinema. She has produced and supervised acclaimed films such as Raees, The Lunchbox, and Dil Dhadakne Do, and has been associated with projects like Manjhi: The Mountain Man, Shakuntala Devi, Noblemen, and Ground Zero.
As a founder of Terrapin Films and co-founder on ventures like Spotter Post Asia, Shivani’s work spans development, production, and creative collaboration, often nurturing content that travels beyond geographies and genres. Her producing voice is marked by a balance of strong storytelling, sharp packaging, and an instinct for scripts that can resonate with both festival circuits and wider audiences.

CV Rao (Producer & CTO, Annapurna Studios): Mr. CV Rao is the Chief Technology Officer at Annapurna Studios, a leading Indian film production studio. With a Post-Graduate degree in Economics and specialized training in film technologies, he began his career as a Graphic Designer before moving into post-production. C V played a key role in the success of iconic films like Baahubali and RRR, overseeing post- production for over 500 films. He is recognized for his visionary leadership, notably establishing one of India’s most advanced virtual production stages at Annapurna Studios. His expertise and innovation continue to shape the studio’s growth and elevate Indian cinema’s technological capabilities.

Shobu Yarlagadda (Co-founder of Arka Mediaworks): Shobu Yarlagadda is the CEO and co-founder of Arka Mediaworks, one of India’s leading film and television production houses. Arka Mediaworks has produced several successful and critically acclaimed films, including Vedam and Maryada Ramanna, and is best known as the banner behind S.S. Rajamouli’s two-part epic Baahubali.

He has played a key role in expanding the Baahubali brand beyond cinema, building it into India’s largest tentpole franchise with extensions into an animated series, a novel trilogy, merchandising, and more. The next major chapter in the universe is Baahubali: Eternal War, a high-budget animated feature slated for release in 2027.

An avid trekker, Shobu unwinds by exploring his culinary interests and spending time with his family.

Aarsh Vora (Creative Producer): Aarsh Vora is a distinctive voice in Indian cinema, known for crossing genres. As a writer and creative producer, he has shaped notable stories across film and streaming with emotional depth and honesty.

His work ranges from the youthful candour of Mismatched and the charm of Dhoom Dhaam to Param Sundari, Meenakshi Sundareshwar, the intensity of Article 370, and the wit of Mistry.

As Creative Producer at B62 Studios with Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar, he has worked on Dhoom Dhaam, Baramulla, Article 370, Dhurandhar, and Dhurandhar: The Revenge.

Aarsh Vora is a genre-defying storyteller whose work leaves a clear, lasting impression.

OUR PRODUCER PANEL

Tanaji Dasgupta (Writer, Producer & Co-founder of Kindling Pictures): Tanaji Dasgupta is a Mumbai-based producer and writer, and the co-founder of Kindling Pictures, founded with Kiran Rao. He co-produced Rao’s Laapataa Ladies (2023), which premiered at TIFF and became one of Netflix’s most-watched Indian films after a 15-week theatrical run.

Tanaji has co-written and produced The Hungry (TIFF 2017) and produced Cat Sticks (Slamdance 2019 Jury HonourableMention). He also served as Head of Post Production for Chaitanya Tamhane’s The Disciple (Venice 2020), executive produced by Alfonso Cuarón.

An alumnus of Berlinale Talents, he focuses on stories that challenge and move audiences while collaborating with filmmakers pushing creative boundaries.

Her production slate includes Khauf, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, Scoop, Monica O My Darling, All India Rank, and Three of Us.

CV Rao (Producer & CTO, Annapurna Studios): Mr. CV Rao is the Chief Technology Officer at Annapurna Studios, a leading Indian film production studio. With a Post-Graduate degree in Economics and specialized training in film technologies, he began his career as a Graphic Designer before moving into post-production. C V played a key role in the success of iconic films like Baahubali and RRR, overseeing post- production for over 500 films. He is recognized for his visionary leadership, notably establishing one of India’s most advanced virtual production stages at Annapurna Studios.
His expertise and innovation continue to shape the studio’s growth and elevate Indian cinema’s technological capabilities.

PROGRAM ADVISOR

Nikkhil Advani is a National Award-winning filmmaker from India. He is a director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures, based in Mumbai. Advani’s feature films as a director include the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Kal Ho Naa Ho, Chandni Chowk to China, Salaam-e-Ishq, Patiala House, Batla House, D-Day, Vedaa, and Delhi Safari, among others. More recently, Advani has been creating extensively for digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and SonyLiv. His work includes award-winning shows like Mumbai Diaries and Rocket Boys, and most recently, a web series based on Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins’s bestseller Freedom at Midnight. Advani also serves on the boards of non-profit organizations like the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Art and Culture, Bittu Sahgal’s Sanctuary Nature Foundation, Women in Film – India, and the Sumitra Gupta Foundation for the Arts (SGFA) — a foundation that supports creative and artistic projects across disciplines.

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Deadline: 10th August 2026; 11:59pm

Contact & Social Media:

For questions, reach out at info@cininfo.in or call +91-9009004762. Stay updated by following us on Instagram: Cininfo4talent.