Karnataka Wants Every District Producing VFX Innovators

Karnataka is proving that innovation doesn't have to belong only to big cities.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah kicked off Asia's largest gaming and visual effects conference on Friday with a bold vision: every district in Karnataka should produce the next great VFX innovator or game designer, not just the capital city of Bengaluru. The seventh edition of the GAFX conference brings together 200+ speakers across 100+ sessions, with masterclasses and immersive experiences running through March 1.

Karnataka became India's first state to create a dedicated policy for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics back in 2016. Now implementing its third policy cycle for 2024-2029, the state expects the creative tech sector to generate 500,000 jobs.

The state is backing up its ambitions with action by promoting digital creative clusters in cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Kalaburagi. These emerging hubs give young creators outside Bengaluru the tools and support they need to compete globally.

Siddaramaiah emphasized an important balance during his speech: artificial intelligence must remain a tool that amplifies human imagination, not a substitute for it. "Technology should amplify human potential, not erase it," he told attendees.

The Ripple Effect

Karnataka already accounts for over 20% of India's entire animation, visual effects, and gaming sector. Creators from the state contribute to some of the world's most visible content pipelines, from Hollywood blockbusters to global streaming hits.

The conference itself reflects this global reach, with attendance from Australia's and France's consuls general, the British High Commissioner, and major industry figures. Sessions include insights from cinematographers like Arvind Kashyap, who worked on the hit film Kantara: Chapter 1, alongside discussions on special effects and gaming industry perspectives.

By decentralizing opportunity, Karnataka is creating pathways for talented young people who might never have considered creative tech careers. A teenager in Kalaburagi now has the same chance as someone in Bengaluru to learn industry-standard skills and connect with global studios.

This approach shows how regional governments can transform entire industries by thinking beyond traditional tech hubs and investing in distributed talent development.