Aakriti Thatal (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist-researcher working across writing, photography, and film. She engages critically with questions of identity and belonging. Her work revolves around the idea of home, exploring public participation in urban spaces and how its presence or absence shapes urban life and aspirations within material landscapes. Her work is informed by the layered inclusions and exclusions produced by caste and gender. Her current work focuses on recording memory through still and moving images and how art can catalyse critical thinking. She loves cats and long walks, and meeting cats on long walks.
Asmita Srivastava approaches media both as a scholar and as a practitioner. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Mass Communication, having earned an M.A. in Media and Cultural Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science from Hindu College, University of Delhi. Her work centres on gender: she wrote her master's dissertation on friendships between women in Hindi cinema, has researched women's representation behind the camera, and has made documentary films on women's lives. She has also produced a poetry podcast and worked in communications at Paani Foundation. She is an avid reader with a fondness for mystery and historical fiction, and a self-confessed Bollywood nerd.
Ashutosh Mishra is a journalist drawn to storytelling, whether through reporting or documentary filmmaking. As a lover of cinema and music, he is either at the theatres or jamming somewhere whenever free.
Dawa Sangpo Bhutia is a filmmaker, photographer, storyteller, conservationist, and ecotourism practitioner from the remote yak-herding community of Chongri in West Sikkim, India. Through photography, filmmaking and community work, he promotes responsible tourism, conservation and cultural preservation. Dawa is also the general secretary of the Yambong Ecotourism Committee. He tells authentic Himalayan stories that inspire a lasting impact for mountain communities.
Radhika Gupta, born and raised in India, Radhika is an artist and environmental storyteller based in Stockholm. Her work represents community voices using futuristic scenario visioning workshops, digital tools and interactive art installations. Radhika currently leads an initiative called Before More is Lost in West Sikkim, to develop and advocate for community-led agendas on reviving traditional food systems.
Priyadarshini Subba is an animator, filmmaker, and illustrator from Darjeeling. A graduate of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, she is passionate about storytelling through visual arts and cinema. Deeply inspired by the rich folklore, cultural heritage, and history of the hills she grew up in, she aspires to bring these stories to life through films and animation. She is currently developing a script for her upcoming film projects, exploring stories rooted in the landscapes, traditions, and narratives of the hills.
Riwaj Diyali is a resident of Sittong 3. He graduated with a Journalism Degree from Salesian College,Sonada and later having been passionate about storytelling and film making, he enrolled in Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, and is pursuing his Diploma in Directing and Producing. His passion for storytelling drives him for narratives close to his own people and places.
Having been brought up in a farming village where houses live in proximity to forest, a lot of skirmish between animals and people were not uncommon, cattle and produce were always subjected to attacks from wild animals. I have always pondered, until I was now years old and still do, who is the arbitrator and who is the victim. The farmer saving his crop or the displaced animal. All this experience and yearning to understand, were the driving force behind the making of this documentary.
Sujan Lamjel is an independent filmmaker based in India, holding a degree in mass communication and journalism. Actively engaged in filmmaking since 2016, he has directed several short films and documentaries using cinema as a platform to explore social and cultural issues of marginalized communities. Alongside his independent projects, Sujan has gained extensive industry experience, working as a chief assistant director, where he has contributed to nine feature and short films and worked on thirteen advertisements for renowned brands such as Dettol, Ashirwaad Salt, So Good, Red Label, Aquaguard, Federal Bank, Antara, Suvidha, Len Den Club, ICICI Bank Lombard, Nycil, Aditya Birla-Jump for health, ICICI-Beat for cheat and so on. In 2023, Sujan refined his craft at Little Lamb Films, working under the mentorship of Bauddhayan Mukherji and Monalisa Mukherji, a transformative experience that deepened his storytelling approach. Currently, Sujan works as a freelance writer and director’s assistant, dedicated to creating authentic narratives that blend realism with emotional depth, shedding light on socio-cultural issues through compelling cinema, constantly evolving as a filmmaker and storyteller. His work reflects a profound understanding of human emotions and societal structures, making his narratives both impactful and thought-provoking. The following is Sujan's filmography as a writer and director: “My Father Broke The Magic Pencil – currently in post production (2026), Crowdfunded project, short film; "In the Shadow of the Bamboo Basket" (2025), short film; "The Menstrual Revolution" (2019), documentary; "The Forgotten Heritage" (2018), documentary; "Nauratha, a Tale of Nine Days" (2017), documentary.
