The All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) has launched one of India’s largest environmental film funds, a ₹1.2 crore ($126,000) initiative backed by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies to support three documentary projects focused on coexistence. Applications are open until June 30, with a second round led by DocedgeKolkata scheduled to open on November 1 and close on December 10.
Developed in partnership with documentary platforms Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata, the fund is designed to back films exploring the connections between human communities, wildlife, ecology and climate across India. The initiative includes not only financial support but also mentorship, story development assistance, impact campaign planning and access to distribution opportunities through ALT EFF’s international network.
Rohini Nilekani said her philanthropy has long supported work on human-wildlife coexistence and that communities across India have historically found ways to live alongside nature. She added that, during a period of ecological crisis, there is a need for stories that help people reconnect with the natural world and with one another.
The fund is intended to surface projects from underrepresented regions, Tier-2 cities and communities that are often absent from mainstream environmental cinema. Filmmakers at both the development and production stages can apply, broadening access for early-stage and active projects alike.
Kunal Khanna, co-founder and festival director of ALT EFF, said India holds some of the world’s most urgent and emotionally powerful environmental stories, but filmmakers often lack the sustained support needed to bring them to a global audience. He said the fund aims to help build a stronger ecosystem for climate storytelling in India.
Selected projects will also receive support for impact campaigns, including community screenings, educational outreach, collaborations with non-governmental organizations and policy engagement. These elements are intended to extend the films’ reach beyond festivals and into public conversation and action.
Now in its sixth year, ALT EFF has screened more than 360 films from over 60 countries and welcomed more than 50,000 attendees across India and eight other countries. The new fund expands the festival’s role beyond exhibition, positioning it as a producer and enabler of environmental nonfiction storytelling in India.
