MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Creativity) recently concluded its flagship 24FPS Creators Fest along with the 22nd International Animation Awards 2025 at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai. The event brought together thousands of creative professionals, students, studio leaders, and international media experts from across the globe.
Recognised as a vibrant platform for storytelling, emerging technology, and career discovery, the festival received over 6,000 entries from India and more than 100 countries, including the UK, France, Vietnam, and South Africa.
The festival opened with an impactful keynote by Ashish Kulkarni, Founder of Punnaryug ArtVision, who shared insights on the rapidly evolving AVGC-XR (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics & Extended Reality) ecosystem and the growing opportunities for creators worldwide.
The Creative Mandapam track featured hands-on masterclasses by studios such as 88 Pictures, CineVisualFX, and Framestore India. These sessions offered behind-the-scenes insights into VFX pipelines, animation performance, and real-world film projects.
For the first time, comics were highlighted as a core pillar of the AVGC-XR ecosystem. A dedicated panel on visual design and sequential storytelling featured creators from Mugafi and Indusverse.
Another major highlight was a discussion on India’s rapidly growing creator economy, focusing on original IP creation and India’s expanding influence in global creative industries.
The awards ceremony celebrated excellence across both student and professional categories, including:
All entries were evaluated by a distinguished jury of experienced industry veterans.
The evening featured live performances by dance crew MJ5, singer Juilee Joglekar, and comedian Joel D’souza. MAAC also honoured 40 alumni under 40 for their significant contributions to the AVGC-XR ecosystem.
As MAAC marks 25 years of excellence, it unveiled two new learning tracks — Career X and Creator X. These initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academic training and industry requirements, offering future creators more focused and industry-aligned career pathways.
According to Sandip Weling, Chief Business Officer and Brand Custodian of MAAC, the festival showcased not only student creativity but also highlighted how India’s next generation of talent is set to influence the global AVGC-XR landscape.