India’s largest fund for environmental filmmakers
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
Apply through GREENSTORIES
Applications open: 1st May, 2026
Applications close: 14th July, 2026
Announcement of Selected Projects: 1st September, 2026
Greenstories 2026, Goa: 11th –17th November, 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 11th-17th 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.
ALT EFF will select up to 3 Indian documentary feature or short films from the wider pool of applications across Asia.
Apply through DOCEDGE
Applications open: 1st November, 2026
Applications close: 10th December, 2026
Production Support
Premiere and Impact Production Support
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 3 Indian documentary features from the wider pool of applications across Asia.
MENTORSHIP AND 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;
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.
3. 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: that the timelines are highly variable and will depend on the subject, access seasons etc.
World 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?
Emerging and established Indian filmmakers with a strong environmental or impact-driven story aligned with the theme of coexistence are invited to apply.
We are looking for:
Fresh perspectives on human–nature relationships
Original stories with a clear, compelling vision
Strong commitment to craft and meeting deadlines
If your project is still in development, you may also consider applying to DocedgeKolkata, opening in November 2026.
Note: Projects outside the theme of Coexistence may still be eligible for Greenstories, but will not be eligible for the ALT EFF Film Fund.
Key Dates:
GREENSTORIES Applications:
Opens on: 1st May, 2026
Closes on: 14th July, 2026
DOCEDGEKOLKATA Applications:
Opens on: 1st November, 2026
Closes on: 1st December, 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 - Green Stories and DocEdge Kolkata
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You must apply through our partners, Green Stories (open now) or DocEdge (opens Dec 2026).
Green Stories 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 and genres.
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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 Green Stories gives you access to mentorship and several potential grantmakers. However, the ALT EFF Fund will only be awarded to Indian filmmakers, whereas the Green Stories and DocEdge eligibility includes filmmakers from across South Asia.
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2026 APPLICATION TIMELINE
01 May 2026 Green Stories applications opens
30 June 2026 Green Stories applications closes
11-17 Nov 2026 Green Stories Event in Goa
Dec 2026 (TBD) DocEdge applications open
Early 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 Green Stories application, you must be present in Goa from 11th to 17th November 2026.
Similarly, for DocEdge Kolkata. If you apply through DocEdge in Dec 2026, you must be able to attend DocEdge in Kolkata in early 2027, dates TBD but likely March 2027. -
The Green Stories page has a comprehensive FAQ and Chatbot - Pakhi. Please start there.
You can also reach out to us at info@alteff.in
Note: if your film is scripted, animated, fiction etc and does not fit the documentary-format eligibility for Green Stories or DocEdge, we would still like to hear from you and may have funds available. Do not email us with your project, instead submit it to us via this form.
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!
COLLABORATORS
Mentoring and pitching forum for wildlife and environment documentaries from Asia
Prominent international doco cinema platform for nurturing new generation filmmaking talents across Asia.