On June 8th, the EcoReels Festival Finale hosted by Kriti Film Club at India Habitat Centre featured a screening of our film, Berang (Directed by Nitin Das, Produced by ComMutiny). Kriti Film Club has been screening socially relevant documentaries since 2000 to foster discussion and understanding among diverse audiences in India. The festival, which features documentaries on environmental themes, is held annually, with the New Delhi edition taking place this year on June 6-8, 2025. The Bengaluru edition, “Eco Reels - the Climate Charche edition,” was held in January 2025.
2025-06-12T18:30:00Z
Set against the striking landscapes of Ladakh, Das’s “Berang” is more than a film about climate crisis, it also highlights how people shape their place - and how that place, in turn, inspires hope and resilience.
By showing how renewable energy brings water and life back to Ladakhi communities, the film moves beyond crisis to celebrate real solutions, collective agency, and the deep connections between people and the land they call home.
It was an evening of powerful climate conscious films and conversations on community, conservation, and sustainable futures. The evening featured a diverse lineup of five films - from the two-minute glimpse of Kangba Lovejoy’s ‘The Most Beautiful Place in the World’ to the in-depth exploration of forest life in ‘A Flaming Forest’ by Salman Javeed and team. Films like ‘Sundarbans: Lives, Livelihoods and Landscape’ by Pranjal Joshi and ‘Himalayan Gold’ by Oshank Soni & Harshit Patel took us on journeys across India’s mountains and forests, highlighting real stories of community, survival, and hope.
What stood out was how these films didn’t just show the beauty of nature, but also the tough realities, like how local communities face daily challenges, how their art and culture keep old traditions alive, and how their lives are changing because of climate change and development.
The films sparked deep discussions about what true sustainability means, the struggle between earning a living and protecting nature, and how both urban and rural perspectives have their own challenges.
Our colleague Rajesh N. Singh Meher joined the panel with other filmmakers and discussant Kanchan Kohli to share how ‘Berang’ is part of a new wave of climate storytelling - one that inspires hope.
“Climate change is chaotic and overwhelming, especially for young people. The usual narrative is frightening and demoralizing. We decided to flip it, by telling positive, vibrant stories rooted in real places and people. By shifting the narrative from fear to possibility, we discover the power of positive, lived experiences to inspire action and resilience.” ~ Rajesh N. Singh Meher, COO, ComMutiny.
#Berang #NourishingNow #EcoReels2025 #ClimateAction