Industry Connect 2025: Garden City University Hosts a Star-Studded Celebration of Indian Cinema
Bangalore | July 10, 2025 — Garden City University turned into a cinematic celebration zone on July 8, 2025, as it hosted Industry Connect 2025 — a landmark event that brought together some of the biggest names from the Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi film industries. The event served as a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and honoring individuals who are reshaping the future of Indian cinema.
One of the key highlights of the evening was the felicitation of JJ Sharma — filmmaker, educator, and founder of Filmkar.com, India’s first film-tech platform dedicated to connecting film professionals across the country. Sharma was honored for his innovative contribution to the film industry through a platform that has redefined how talent is discovered, hired, and nurtured.
“Filmkar.com was born from the real struggles I saw around me — brilliant artists with no central place to connect,” said Sharma. “We built Filmkar to give them a chance, no matter where they come from.”
Filmkar.com: One Year of Industry Transformation
Launched nationwide on April 9, 2024, coinciding with the Ugadi festival, Filmkar.com has rapidly grown into a powerful digital ecosystem for filmmakers, actors, casting directors, and technicians. What started in 2019 as a concept now serves as a key digital infrastructure for India’s film workforce.
JJ Sharma’s journey began in the Kannada film industry, working as a cinematographer and editor. His earlier ventures — Macwin Studio & Cine Academy (2014) and Cinemandi.com (2017) — laid the foundation for understanding the technology needs of media professionals.
From Vision to Reality
After piloting the platform in 2021 and expanding across Karnataka by 2023, Filmkar.com gained endorsements from industry veterans including P. Sheshadri, V. Manohar, Jayamala, and B. Suresh. Their support propelled the platform toward a successful nationwide launch.
What Filmkar.com Offers:
- Verified Opportunities: Users can create professional portfolios and apply to authentic casting calls and crew openings.
- Smart Talent Discovery: Recruiters and producers can filter candidates by age, skill, language, and other key attributes.
More Than a Platform — A Growing Movement
Filmkar.com has grown into a collaborative space where filmmakers, technicians, and creatives can discover opportunities, build partnerships, and share knowledge — creating an ecosystem where talent is valued over background.
“Filmkar is not just about connections — it’s about capabilities,” said Sharma. “Whether you’re from a small village or a big city, your work speaks for you here.”
Looking Ahead: AI-Powered Future for Indian Cinema
As Filmkar.com enters its second year, the team is working on a new wave of upgrades designed to further revolutionize the film industry. Upcoming features include:
- AI-Driven Post-Production Cloud Tools
- Real-Time Live Casting Call Integration
- Expanded Industry Collaboration Network
- Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Script Breakdown, Budget Forecasting & Talent Mapping
Sharma revealed that AI integration will be a key part of Filmkar’s next phase, enabling smarter workflows, predictive hiring tools, and advanced production analytics — all aimed at enhancing the efficiency and creativity of filmmaking in India.
“We’re integrating Artificial Intelligence to empower creators, not replace them,” Sharma explained. “The future of Indian cinema is smart, inclusive, and interconnected — and Filmkar will be right at the heart of it.”
For more information or partnership inquiries, visit 👉 www.filmkar.com
For more information or partnership inquiries, visit 👉 www.filmkar.com
For more information or partnership inquiries, visit 👉 www.filmkar.com
