Nature inFocus Emerging Filmmaker Grant

The Nature inFocus Filmmaker Fellows Program will support aspiring Indian filmmakers in their endeavours to share pertinent environmental stories. We are looking for fresh perspectives and filmmakers who are interested in conservation storytelling.

These short films should shine a light on conservation measures to communicate the message to a larger audience. Visually compelling narratives that build awareness and encourage action will be the focus of this grant.

The grant will provide a unique opportunity for filmmakers to gain funding and expert mentorship that will enable them to showcase their craft at the highest level.

Supporters

The grant is supported by Sandeep Mall and Vipul Gupta, who are passionate wildlife photographers, conservationists and dedicated philanthropists.

Vipul’s philanthropic journey spans over two decades of girl child education across the country, with a focus on central India. Through his work at Earth Focus, he aims to solve development challenges through a community-driven approach that creates resilient, long-lasting solutions.

Sandeep Mall is a Trustee of the Thakurdas Badrinarain Foundation Society, a family-owned registered charitable trust dedicated to nature conservation, education and health, with a distinctive feature of operating on a zero administrative cost model. Every resource the foundation receives is directly invested into its initiatives, ensuring efficiency and maximum impact.

Sandeep also leverages his network to create campaigns that support Earth Focus’s efforts to create sustainable livelihoods for those living in the buffer areas of Kanha National Park.

No. of Grants

3

Grant Amount

INR 4.5 Lakhs each

Duration of the Films

Up to 15 minutes

Topics

Stories of Hope

In a world often defined by doom and despair, we’re searching for stories of hope, films that celebrate the power of conservation and the possibilities it unlocks. From recovering endangered species and habitat restoration projects, to community-led conservation efforts or innovative solutions to modern-day issues, we want to highlight the success stories to prove that not all is lost.

Of Nature and Culture

Across India, nature and culture have long been intertwined—rivers worshipped as goddesses, forests protected as abodes of spirits, and wildlife revered in myths and rituals. These stories, passed down through generations, shape how communities live with and protect the natural world. We’re looking for films that explore these deep-rooted connections. From sacred groves and traditional festivals to indigenous knowledge systems and oral histories, we want to spotlight how cultural beliefs and practices continue to nurture biodiversity and inspire conservation.

Jury

Rohit Varma
Scientist, Nature Conservation Foundation
Rohit Varma is the founder of Nature inFocus. He hails from Balaghat, a small town bordering Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, where he developed his love for the natural world. After successfully managing multiple roles over 15 years in companies like AMD, SanDisk and CyberMedia, Rohit hung up his corporate boots to pursue his passion for photography and wildlife – which led to the creation of Nature inFocus.

Sandeep Mall
Wildlife Biologist
Sandeep Mall is a wildlife photographer, fitness and lifestyle coach and a successful entrepreneur. Through his campaigns, he builds networks for Earth Focus in its interventions for sustainable livelihoods in the buffer areas of Kanha National Park.

Vipul Gupta
Wildlife Filmmaker
Vipul Gupta is a passionate nature & wildlife enthusiast and also the Executive Director of Earth Focus Foundation, building on over 40 years of experience in the Central Indian landscape. Before Earth Focus, Vipul spent three decades building teams and organisations in the corporate sector, in the realm of manufacturing and distribution. He is as comfortable working with tribal communities as he is in board rooms.

Kalyan Varma
Founder, Nature inFocus
Kalyan Varma is an Emmy-nominated wildlife filmmaker and photographer documenting wildlife and the environmental issues in India. Over the last two decade, he has worked on many landmark blue chip wildlife series for the BBC and National Geographic channel.

Mentors

Sara
Scientist, Nature Conservation Foundation
Sara is a wildlife filmmaker and the founder of Evanescence Studios and The Indian Wildlife Channel. He has worked for major networks like the BBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet and Discovery and his latest series was for Netflix. Sara started his journey as a wildlife photographer and continues to share a passion for creating images

Rita Banerji
Wildlife Biologist
Rita Banerji is one of the leading environmental filmmakers in the country and her work has been grounded in using communication as a strong tool for conservation action. In 2017 she was awarded the National Geographic – CMS Prithvi Ratna Award for her contribution to the environment and the RBS Earth Heroes award in 2018. She has been part of three Panda Award-winning films, also known as the Green Oscar at Wildscreen, UK. Her core work is in engaging and empowering the youth, especially from indigenous and grassroots communities, in conservation through the use of films.

Sripad Sridhar
Wildlife Filmmaker
Sripad Sridhar is a filmmaker, DOP, and director from India with over a decade of experience. Best known for his work on wildlife films for global platforms like Netflix, National Geographic, and Animal Planet, he has also collaborated with leading Indian conservation organizations and government bodies. Sripad’s expertise spans both factual and fiction filmmaking, including corporate and CSR films for major brands like Infosys and Ashok Leyland. He is the founder of House Corvus Films, known for producing complex factual content. With over 300 films to his credit, Sripad’s work continues to educate, inspire, and create tangible impact.

Fellowship Guide

Timelines

  • The grant will open for applications on – 18th April, 2025
  • The last date for applications – 11th May, 2025
  • The results will be announced on – 1st June, 2025
  • Films should be delivered five months from the date of announcement – 1st November

Criteria

  1. The grant will be open to emerging filmmakers from India only. Candidates should provide proof of prior experience in making natural history and conservation films.
  2. The applicant should not have more than five years of paid experience in filmmaking.
  3. The applicant should not have a Producer/Director/Executive Producer credit in a broadcast film.
  4. Only citizens of India can apply and the films should showcase stories from the country.
  5. Indian citizens residing in other countries can apply as long as the film features stories from India.
  6. The grant is open to films in their ideation stage and also films already in progress.
  7. Films in progress must be self-funded and not have any external financial support to be eligible for the grant.
  8. All applicants must provide a brief concept note/presentation of their proposed film along with their application.
  9. For ongoing films, the applicants must provide footage of work in progress. Both, unedited and edited footage are admissible.
  10. Once shortlisted, applicants must present their pitch to the jury members through a virtual session. The three grant winners will be notified via email.
  11. Each grantee will receive INR 4.5L to complete their film.

Allocation of Funds

The funds will be allocated in three stages as outlined below:

Team Nature inFocus will help the grantees build their stories and outline their films.

Team Nature inFocus will provide guidance and feedback on technical aspects. Feedback on footage will also be shared in a timely manner.

Team Nature inFocus will provide feedback during the post-production phase, ensuring timely quality output.

The films will be promoted on the Nature inFocus portal as well as social media channels. The films will also be showcased at the Nature inFocus Festival.

Terms

  1. Nature inFocus and the Funders will be the producers for these films.
  2. The producers should be mentioned in the end credits.
  3. Filmmakers must obtain requisite permissions from local authorities or forest departments. Nature inFocus will not provide any assistance in the same.
  4. The grantee can submit the film for awards and film festivals, with Nature inFocus and the Funders mentioned as the producers.
  5. The complete footage (used and unused) will belong to Nature inFocus and the Thakurdas Badrinarain Foundation Society for a period of three years.

Got a Question?

Write to us at [email protected]

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