15-16 years and under

This film traces the cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance of Deccani wool through the story of Balu Mama and his revered flock. Exploring resilient sheep, shepherding traditions, and wool’s sacred role, it contrasts a rich heritage with modern neglect, asking if past wisdom can inspire renewed value for pastoral life.

A city-weary blackbird finds a private garden and tries to serenade a female resident, only to realize the quiet he sought is still elusive. Straining his voice to be heard, he faces challenges and must navigate the struggle to reclaim his song.

On Makar Sankranti in Uttarakhand, children string fried sweets into garlands to feed crows. Bhanu, eager to eat, is stopped by his grandmother and hears from his grandfather the ritual’s story. The Garland of Ghughuti weaves food, family, folklore, and the playfulness of cultural tradition.

The Butterfly Man follows Isaac Kehimkar, a passionate naturalist who has spent his life protecting India’s butterflies. Born in Mumbai, one of the world’s most crowded cities, Isaac creates butterfly gardens and teaches children. His story unfolds with the butterfly’s metamorphosis, a transformation both remarkable and rarely seen up close.

KHARVAN, set in Goa’s 3,000-year-old Khazan wetlands, follows the smooth-coated otter, a species thriving in this human-shaped ecosystem. Using live action and animation, the film reveals deep ties between nature, culture, and belief in Rakhandars, spirit guardians of the land, reflecting on coexistence, ecological fragility, and ancestral stewardship.

In India’s Charotar region, people live in harmony with marsh crocodiles, India’s largest freshwater predator. With fewer than ten attacks in ten years, this coexistence is remarkable. Phir Bhi follows these communities to understand their deep tolerance, their challenges, and how collective care shapes a shared future with wildlife.

In a smog-filled city, seventy-year-old Henry finds escape in the last community garden, now under threat from looming construction. When he clashes with Narjisse, a young activist determined to fight back, their unlikely encounter tests two generations and sparks the possibility of awakening a passive community.

Damon Gameau, award winning filmmaker behind 2040 and That Sugar Film, takes eight kids on the ultimate school excursion: a road trip across Europe to meet with powerful leaders and find solutions to our greatest ecological challenges, from the unique perspective of youth.

In a Maharashtrian village, seven year old Vithu feels the threat to his family’s ancestral mango farm from the bullet train project. While his father dreams of the city and his uncle clings to farming roots, Vithu takes action that forces the family to confront loss and rediscover unity.