The Meghalaya-rooted feature film A Late Autumn Dream, the debut project of filmmaker Pramati Anand, is steadily gaining momentum through structured development support at the WAVES Film Bazaar, emerging as a promising new voice in Indian cinema.
The project entered WAVES at an early stage through the NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab, where the screenplay underwent focused mentorship. During the lab, the film’s narrative—described as a lyrical socio-political drama set in Meghalaya—was refined for clarity, emotional depth, and industry readiness, while preserving its cultural authenticity.
At WAVES Film Bazaar, A Late Autumn Dream stood out for its distinct storytelling approach, blending realism with myth and folklore. The film explores themes of identity, displacement, and human connection against the backdrop of a sensitive border landscape. Set in Meghalaya, the story follows two young women—a Bengali student and an Indigenous Khasi girl—who become lost in a forest believed to be inhabited by a mythical presence.
The film’s premise, rooted in questions of cultural identity and border conflict, resonated strongly within the development ecosystem. Following the lab, the project advanced to Rewrite 1.2 by Studio Ainak, further strengthening its creative foundation.
The project also gained international visibility after being selected as part of the Women in Film India delegation to the Toronto International Film Festival, placing it on a global development platform.
A major milestone was reached when Platoon One Films came on board as the lead production company. The producers acknowledged the film’s carefully developed screenplay and its journey through structured platforms like WAVES, marking its transition from development to production readiness.
Filmmaker Pramati Anand has drawn from her personal experiences during a UNESCO project, grounding the film’s poetic narrative in lived reality. For the producers, the project aligns with an IP-driven vision that values strong storytelling while remaining deeply rooted in place, culture, and perspective.
The journey of A Late Autumn Dream reflects the role of WAVES Film Bazaar as a catalyst for emerging filmmakers—enabling stories to evolve gradually and connect with the right creative and production partners. Through such platforms, new Indian stories continue to find their footing, voice, and future.