A new INR40 lakh (approximately $42,000) co-production fund for feature films aimed at India’s emerging independent filmmakers has been launched by Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures, with eminent filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj and Oscar-nominated director Shaunak Sen attached as mentors.
Sen will also serve as executive producer on whichever project is ultimately selected for backing.
The fund’s jury brings together actor Imran Khan, filmmaker Arati Kadav (“Cargo,” “Mrs”), “All That Breathes” producer Aman Mann and festival director Aseem Chhabra.
Humans of Cinema founder Harshit Bansal said the initiative grew out of a connection with Nazim Momin – a U.S.-based engineer and producer who runs Safarnaama Pictures – after Momin approached him on Instagram. The two aim to back a film built to travel internationally while also resonating with local audiences. Kiterabbit Films, Sen’s production company, is also contributing to the fund.
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“Independent cinema survives because some people choose to believe in voices before the world discovers them. Happy to support an initiative that hopes to find and nurture the next fearless generation of filmmakers from India,” Bhardwaj said.
“Avenues for independent cinema today are rapidly wilting, and I’m delighted that Humans of Cinema is instating a filmmaker-forward seed fund. I’m excited to work with the chosen scripts,” Sen added.
“Initiatives to discover and nurture the next generation of filmmaking talent are sorely needed, and I am thrilled to support the HOC Film fund,” Khan said.
“I am excited to see the young voices and stories I will meet through this venture and I hope this goes from strength to strength in the coming years, where we will see many brilliant and radical voices finding support in this ecosystem,” Kadav added.
“This will be a great opportunity for a young filmmaker who is keen to make their first feature and take it to an international festival. Such endeavors are essential if we want to take Indian cinema to the next level in the global market,” Chhabra said.
“Our intention is to find the next distinct filmmaking voice from the country, and offer them the financial, production & industry support they need to not just make their films, but also to help them find the right festival & distribution support,” Bansal added.
Eligibility is limited to Indian citizens who are 18 or older and hold a directing credit of at least two shorts or one feature.
