Aspiring documentary filmmakers in India have a significant opportunity to bring their unique stories to life with the announcement of the 2025-26 Documentary Film Fellowships. This initiative aims to support artistic research and experimentation, encouraging the creation of films that delve into innovative ideas and nuanced perspectives, particularly those that highlight marginalized experiences.
Key Takeaways
- Focus: Support for artistic research, experimentation, and the creation of evocative films exploring innovative ideas and nuanced perspectives.
- Eligibility: Open to women, trans, and queer filmmakers residing in India, applying as individuals, teams, or collectives.
- Emphasis: Encourages feminist inquiries and narratives on alternative, unconventional, unheard, and neglected experiences, realities, and forms of knowledge.
- Award: Three fellowships of ₹3,00,000 each.
- Timeline: Recipients must complete their films within eight to nine months.
- Deadline: September 20, 2025.
Exploring Unheard Narratives
The fellowships are specifically designed to encourage feminist inquiries and reflections on alternative, different, unconventional, unheard, and neglected experiences. This includes a wide range of realities, connections, forms of knowledge, histories, livelihoods, beliefs, practices, and routines of life. The program seeks to foreground the fragile, the marginal, the unexplored, the silenced, and the othered – aspects of existence often subject to societal hierarchies.
Eligibility and Scope
Filmmakers from communities marginalized by caste, class, disability, religion, ethnicity, work, or region are particularly encouraged to apply. Proposals can be submitted in any language, with the final films requiring English subtitles. The desired film length is between 40 and 60 minutes. Innovative formats and treatments are welcomed, and the projects should be in the early stages of development or conceived specifically for this call. Projects nearing completion or solely seeking post-production funds are not eligible.
Fellowship Details and Support
Three fellowships, each valued at ₹3,00,000, will be awarded. Recipients will be expected to complete their films within an eight to nine-month period. The fellowship includes mentorship and feedback from Rough Edges and the Mrinalini Mukherjee Foundation, fostering a supportive environment for artistic growth. The Mrinalini Mukherjee Foundation, dedicated to supporting visual arts and cultural collaborations, sees this fellowship as a vital part of its mission to create platforms for innovative artistic expression.
