In this special Industry Spotlight, a WAVES Film Bazaar 2025 feature, producer Anna Shalashina spoke with Lohita Sujith, Sr. Director, Copyright & Digital Economy, Motion Picture Association, about her journey as a producer and the international collaborations that shape her work. Anna traced her career from major Russian studios to founding her own company, Wish Media, driven by a desire to support filmmakers she believes in and tell stories she is passionate about. She reflected on her experience with the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs program, noting how it provided crucial expertise in co-productions and continues to inform her daily work.

Anna described her approach to selecting projects with global potential, emphasizing that stories with intrinsic international resonance, such as her film Mokretsov, naturally attract co-production partners. She recounted her experiences producing Silly, a Russian-French-Israeli-Italian co-production that premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and the documentary Frog, which benefited from funding and mentorship through the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and IDFA. These projects reinforced her belief in persistence, even when initial opportunities are limited.

Highlighting her current project, Smash, Anna explained how Waves Film Bazaar’s co-production market is an ideal platform for the film, which is set predominantly in India and features Indian characters. She emphasized the Bazaar’s role in fostering cross-cultural collaboration, connecting producers from Russia, India, and beyond, and enabling films to resonate with local and global audiences. Anna also shared her vision for international co-productions, stressing the value of collaboration to broaden a film’s perspective and reach.

Through her experiences, Anna underscored Waves Film Bazaar as a vital space for networking, mentorship, and realizing projects that bridge cultures and audiences worldwide.