The ALT EFF Film Fund, enabled by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, 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 from a total corpus of INR 1.2 Crore. The selected documentaries must explore the theme of Coexistence.
Applications will be accepted through our partners:
Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata.
2026 Theme
COEXISTENCE
How do humans coexist within nature?
This question 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 this theme, the fund will intentionally look beyond the most familiar wildlife narratives (example: 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.
In 2026, the fund will disburse INR 1.2 Crore in support across three projects, selected through our partners at Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata. We will prioritise projects that are geographically and socio-economically diverse, with particular emphasis on Tier-2 locations and on regions, communities, and themes that remain underrepresented in Indian and global environmental cinema.
HOW IT WORKS
ALT EFF will select projects to fund through our partners at Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata.
Note: Note: Greenstories applications are open now, while DocedgeKolkata applications will open on November 1st, 2026. You may apply to one or both. The Film Fund Corpus of INR 1.2 CR will be allocated across three projects in total (in varied amounts, as per each project’s specifications), selected from applications submitted through Greenstories and/or DocedgeKolkata.
MENTORSHIP AND PITCH LAB
Apply through Greenstories
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 weekintensive pitch labfrom November 11-17, 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.
Check Eligibility Feature | Check Eligibility Short
Apply through DocedgeKolkata
The Docedge forum is a prominent nonfiction cinema platform for nurturing new generation filmmaking talents from India and across Asia taking place during early March in Kolkata. Applications open from Nov 1st to Dec 10, 2026 for a week-long program featuring film screenings, incubation labs, masterclasses, and curated exchanges with industry experts and distributors.
Check for more details
Note: The ALT EFF Film Fund is open only to Indian filmmakers. While Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata accept submissions from across Asia, the ALT EFF Film Fund will shortlist and support only Indian projects.
Up to three Indian projects will be selected overall, across applications received via Greenstories and/or DocedgeKolkata.
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
Once the film projects are selected at the culmination of the Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata events, a project timeline will be drawn up representing;
Development: Filmmakers develop scripts, conduct field research , conceptualise an impact strategy, and finalise the plan of execution.
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.
Editing and post production: rough‑cut screenings with feedback from mentors, impact strategists and RNP, strengthening storytelling and the film's potential for meaningful impact.
Note: Timelines are highly variable and will depend on the subject, access seasons, and other factors.
PREMIERE AND IMPACT PRODUCTION
At their completion, ALT EFF will host the world premiere at the annual festival and support the films’ festival run across other leading global festivals. This stage 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.
WHO CAN APPLY?
If you are an Indian filmmaker with a compelling environmental or impact story, under the theme of coexistence, we want to hear from you.
What matters is the originality of your story, commitment to the craft, and clarity of thought.
Apply for Green Stories now via the link below.
If your project needs more time to develop, consider applying for DocEdge Kolkata - another avenue to access ALT EFF Film Fund, which opens in December 2026.
Note: If your film is not related to Coexistence, it is still eligible for Green Stories and could win prizes; just not from ALT EFF.
Key Dates
Green Stories applications open: May 1, 2026
Green Stories applications close: June 30, 2026
What You Get:
Funding, mentorship, impact production and distribution guidance.
FAQs
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Yes! This year we are looking to award funds to projects under the theme of Coexistence.
This theme is intentionally wide. Coexistence is the friction point where policy, culture, and ecology merge.
We will specifically prioritise projects that are geographically and socio‑economically diverse, with a particular emphasis on Tier‑2 locations and regions and topics that are often underrepresented in Indian and global environmental cinema, and will avoid further saturating already over‑exposed regions such as certain parts of the Western Ghats or topics, such as big cats.
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Up to 3 projects will be selected from our 2 selection avenues - Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata
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You must apply through our partners, Greenstories(open now)or DocedgeKolkata (opens Nov 2026).
Greenstories will shortlist 16 projects from across Asia to attend a week-long lab in Goa (11-17 Nov 2026). Here, you’ll receive deep-dive mentorship.
The first four days will focus on deepening visual and narrative development, followed by two days of pitches and business meetings. Through the week, you’ll sharpen your idea, build your pitch, and get feedback from mentors. The lab ends with a pitch to a jury. Through that pitch, the ALT EFF fund will be allocated to up to 3 projects with variable funding for each. By being selected for Greenstories, your project will also be pitched in front of other funds and has the potential to be awarded grants from other grantmakers and funds at the Greenstories event. -
Indian filmmakers, including OCI holders, across all experience levels.
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Both! If your project is selected for Greenstories, it will also be pitched to a wider group of funders, giving you the chance to receive grants from other supporters present at the event.
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You will need a proof of concept to apply. You can apply by submitting a project pitch and a short trailer/sizzler from your project. Your application is not eligible if not supported with a trailer of 2-3 minutes.
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Wholeheartedly yes!
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Selection in Greenstories gives you access to mentorship and several potential grantmakers. However, the ALT EFF Fund will only be awarded to Indian filmmakers, whereas the Greenstories and DocedgeKolkata eligibility includes filmmakers from across Asia.
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2026 APPLICATION TIMELINE
01 May 2026 Greenstories applications opens
30 June 2026 Greenstories applications closes
1 Nov 2026
Docedge applications open11-17 Nov 2026 Greenstories Event in Goa
10 Dec 2026
Docedge applications close
March 2027 (TBD) Docedge Event in Kolkata
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Yes 100%. This is a massive opportunity for your project where the mentorship, feedback, and the pitch happens. If selected throughthe Greenstories application, you must be present in Goa from 11th to 17th November 2026.
Similarly, for DocedgeKolkata. If you apply through DocEdge in Nov 2026, you must be able to attend DocEdge in Kolkata in early 2027, dates TBD but likely March 2027. -
The Greenstories page has a comprehensive FAQ. Please start there.
You can also reach out to us at info@alteff.in
Note: Is your project animated? Fiction? Scripted? ALT EFF loves environmental cinema outside the documentary format and will grow Film Fund include these projects. Watch this space and make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to stay up to date.
SUPPORTED BY
Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies leverages the inquisitions of our future to mobilise creative minds in the present to mitigate and eradicate the issues that we as a society face.
We are elated to join forces with a team that believes in the power of the people, the power of society!
PARTNERS
Mentoring and pitching forum for wildlife and environment documentaries from Asia
Prominent international doco cinema platform for nurturing new generation filmmaking talents across Asia.