Seventh edition of Bengaluru GAFX to be held on Feb 27
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday announced the seventh edition of Bengaluru GAFX, one of the country’s largest AVGC-XR conferences and exhibitions.
Supported by the state government in collaboration with the Association of Bangalore Animation Industry and Startup Karnataka, the event will be held from February 27 to March 1 here.
It is expected to bring together creators, studios, technologists, investors, and industry leaders from across the global media and entertainment ecosystem.
According to a press release, Karnataka remains at the forefront of India’s 'orange economy', where creativity, culture, and technology converge.
The state contributes nearly 20 per cent to the country’s media and entertainment industry and is home to over 300 Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality studios, employing around 15,000 professionals, supported by a strong freelance and gig ecosystem.
The theme for this year, 'Evolution Reloaded', reflects the next phase of growth in AVGC and immersive media sectors, where human creativity integrates with advanced technologies to redefine storytelling, gaming, animation, and immersive experiences.
Addressing a press conference, IT Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted the AVGC Centre of Excellence as a key pillar of the state’s strategy.
The CoE has executed over 200 projects across domestic and international markets, spanning animation, VFX, gaming, and XR.
With the rollout of AVGC CoE 2.0, the government aims to expand access beyond Bengaluru into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, creating a distributed creative technology network across the state, he said.
"In 2024, India saw a 20 per cent growth in the sector, and nearly 50 per cent of the revenue came from Karnataka. We have the required human resources and skills for AVGC here. We have implemented the AVGC-XR policy and aim to create more than 50,000 jobs by 2028," Priyank said.
He noted that several high-budget Indian films, including 'KGF', completed significant creative and technical work at Karnataka’s Centres of Excellence.
The minister stressed that Karnataka has been consistently investing in digital art platforms across districts, not limited to Bengaluru.
The CoE in AVGC has been functional for over six years, he added.
Emphasising regional expansion, Priyank said strong creative ideas are emerging from Tier-II cities, and the government is prioritising balanced development while strengthening Bengaluru’s position as a global creative hub.
The summit will feature sessions on major productions, including 'Kantara Chapter 1', Netflix’s 'Kurukshetra', 'Mahavatar Narasimha', 'Dhurandhar', and 'Lokah'.
Highlights include a book-to-screen session on Indian mythology with author Anand Neelakanthan, cinematography and virtual production sessions with directors of photography from 'Kantara', 'Baahubali', and 'OG', as well as making-of sessions from Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated projects.
The event will also host a dedicated AI-for-VFX track, gaming sessions, VFX masterclasses, comics street, board game launches, GAFX art challenges, and a B2B investor connect, positioning the conference as a key convergence point for the future of visual storytelling, the release added.
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Karnataka: SP’s gunman among two arrested for extorting money from rice smuggler
Ballari (Karnataka) (PTI): An armed police constable serving as the district superintendent of police’s personal gunman, along with his accomplice, was arrested for allegedly extorting money from a rice smuggler, police said on Friday.
Devaraj, who had been serving as the SP’s gunman for the past four and a half years, was identified as the mastermind behind the incident.
Following an investigation, Devaraj and his accomplice Sairam were arrested on May 6, while efforts are underway to nab a third accused, Gadilinga, a practising advocate in Ballari, who is absconding, police said.
The matter came to light after a complaint was filed by Sharabappa, a habitual offender allegedly involved in illegal rice transport, they added.
According to police, the incident occurred on the intervening night of April 27 and 28, when a group of masked men intercepted Sharabappa’s rice-laden vehicles near the Moka forest area.
The accused allegedly introduced themselves as members of an “SP squad”, threatened to seize the vehicles and file criminal cases, and demanded money to avoid legal action.
Police said the accused initially demanded Rs 5 lakh and later extorted around Rs 3 lakh from the complainant.
Investigation revealed that Devaraj was the main person involved in demanding and collecting the money, while Sairam and Gadilinga were also involved in the offence. Sairam was allegedly involved in similar activities earlier as well.
Devaraj and Sairam were arrested under Sections 308(2) (extortion) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police also seized the extorted cash, the four-wheeler, and mobile phones allegedly used in the crime. Efforts are underway to trace Gadilinga.
Addressing a press conference, Ballari Superintendent of Police Suman D Pennekar described the incident as a serious offence that has tarnished the image of the police department.
"There is no official ‘SP squad’ or ‘DSP squad’ operating in the district. Such labels are often misused by impostors or corrupt individuals to commit extortion," the SP clarified.
She said no involvement of other police officers has been found so far.
Departmental proceedings have been initiated against Devaraj, and suspension proceedings are underway. The SP added that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in such offences.
Police said Sharabappa, the complainant, is a known habitual offender involved in illegal rice smuggling, and several cases have already been registered against him in the Moka and Peddihalli areas. A separate case has also been registered against him in connection with rice smuggling on the night of the incident.
Authorities are also exploring the possibility of initiating externment proceedings against him under applicable legal provisions.
The SP urged the public to report any extortion attempts by persons claiming to be part of an “SP squad”, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
