Green documentary fund launched

One of India’s largest environmental film funds — a $126,000 initiative that will provide grants to three documentary projects — has been launched by the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF).

Backed by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, the fund, developed in partnership with documentary platforms Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata, targets films built around the theme of coexistence — examining relationships between human communities, wildlife, ecology and climate across India. Beyond financing, selected filmmakers will receive mentorship, story development support, impact campaign guidance and access to distribution pathways through ALT EFF’s international network.

The Film Fund returns for its second year to support environmental filmmakers from pitch to premiere through funding, mentorship, impact campaign support, and distribution guidance. In 2026, the fund will support three Indian projects. The selected documentaries must explore the theme of ‘coexistence’. Applications are open through June 30 and will be accepted through their partners Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata.

As the ALT EFF website explains, the question — ‘How do humans coexist within nature?’ — sits at the heart of many environmental challenges, from ecosystem pressures that push wildlife into human-dominated landscapes to the ways farmers and other communities adapt to changing ecologies. Coexistence is the point of friction where policy, culture, and ecology converge, shaping what is protected, what is compromised, and who bears the costs. Within the theme of coexistences, the fund will intentionally look beyond the most familiar wildlife narratives (e.g., big-cat-centric stories about tigers, leopards, or elephants) to surface unusual, under-told, and distinctive forms of coexistence that explore unexpected human-nature relationships. Projects that are geographically and socio-economically diverse will be prioritised, with particular emphasis on Tier-2 locations and on regions, communities, and themes that remain underrepresented in Indian and global environmental cinema.

For application through GREENSTORIES, announcement of selected projects will be on 1 September 2026. Shortlisted projects for Greenstories, Asia’s first wildlife and environment documentary lab with direct access to 25+ international broadcasters, distributors, foundations, and festival organizers, will join a week intensive pitch lab from 11-17 November 2026, in Goa. They will receive hands-on mentorship from global industry leaders. The first four days will focus on deepening visual and narrative direction, and final two days will be pitching and business meetings to a panel of decision makers who will select up to 3 grantees.

Applications through DOCEDGE are open from 1 November 2026, and close on 10 December 2026. The Docedge Forum is Asia’s premier documentary platform, with a 23-year legacy of supporting up to 24 projects each year from filmmakers across Asia. Held in Kolkata each March, it is a week-long program featuring film screenings, incubation labs, masterclasses, and curated exchanges with industry experts and distributors.

ALT EFF will select up to three Indian documentary features from the wider pool of applications across Asia. Once the film projects are selected at the culmination of the Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata events, a project timeline will be drawn up representing (1) Development — filmmakers develop scripts, conduct field research, conceptualise an impact strategy, and finalise the plan of execution; (2) Filming and production — filmmakers benefit from mentorship from ALT EFF network, receiving access to check-ins, training and feedback sessions ensuring alignment with the theme; and (3) Editing and post production — rough‑cut screenings with feedback from mentors and impact strategists, strengthening storytelling and the film’s potential for meaningful impact. The timelines are highly variable and will depend on the subject, access seasons etc.

At their completion, ALT EFF will host the world premiere at the annual festival and support the run across other leading global festivals. This will also include strategic planning for impact campaigns to accompany the films. 10% of the amount awarded to each project is ring-fenced for impact producing. This is a growing space that critically expands the film from something that is watched, to something that is actioned. Strategies may include community screenings, educational materials, policy advocacy, NGO partnerships, and digital amplification.

Emerging and established Indian filmmakers with a strong environmental or impact-driven story aligned with the theme of coexistence are invited to apply. As the website points out, the Fund is looking for fresh perspectives on human–nature relationships; original stories with a clear, compelling vision; strong commitment to craft and meeting deadlines.