1-year immersive diploma programme by the Auroville Film Institute in collaboration with Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh . It is a multi-site, dynamic, production oriented diploma, incorporating experiential learning modules in Auroville-Pondicherry and Ladakh.
Last Date of Application: 15th August 2026
OVERVIEW:
The Open Space Documentary Arts (OSDA) Programme is a one-year, production-oriented diploma that combines documentary cinema, contemporary media arts and site-based learning. Structured across Ladakh, Auroville and self-directed field locations, the programme guides participants through a journey from environmental observation to personal inquiry, culminating in short documentary productions and expanded media projects.
At the heart of the programme lies the framework of 3S: Self – Surrounding – Story. Anchored in the dynamic interplay of introspective, observational and relational practices, this approach encourages participants to cultivate both an inward gaze and an outward engagement with the world. Documentary practice emerges not merely as a means of capturing reality, but as a process of encounter, reflection and creative response.
In Principle : The philosophical foundation of the programme is informed by Deep Ecology, an environmental philosophy that challenges anthropocentrism and proposes a biocentric worldview, understanding humans as inseparable from the wider web of life. Rather than positioning the documentarian as an external observer of stories, the programme encourages a shift from the isolated “ego-self” towards an expanded “eco-self”, the one that recognizes symbiosis, reciprocity and responsibility.
Within this framework, documentary art becomes a practice of attention and attunement : a way of listening, witnessing and responding to the complex relationships between people, place, memory, ecology and culture. Through immersive engagement with diverse environments and communities, participants are encouraged to develop stories that arise from lived encounters rather than predetermined narratives.
The programme thus seeks to cultivate documentary and contemporary media practitioners who are critically aware, ethically grounded and artistically adventurous.
In Practice : The OSDA Programme will primarily unfold over two sites: Auroville and Ladakh; the Programme will be carried over 4 Modules – as follows :
Module-1: In Ladakh For 08 weeks: From 1 Sept to 31 Oct 2026;
Module-2: In Auroville For 12 weeks: From 1 Dec 2026 to 28 Feb 2027;
Module-3: Site of Choice For 10 weeks: From 1 Mar to 15 May 2027;
Module-4: Production Consolidation For 06 weeks: From 15 May to 30 June 2027.
Module-1: Ladakh
Environmental Immersion /Cultivating Outward Gaze /Surrounding → Story:
Ethos: Ladakh serves as an expansive, living classroom dominated by geologic time, fragile high-altitude ecosystems, ancient civilization and current geo-political affairs. The sheer physical splendour and scale of the landscape invite participants to look beyond personal narratives and engage deeply with the surrounding environment.
Exercises: Through environmental immersion, they will engage in foundational concepts and technical exercises. From the history of documentary cinema, to contemporary contextual practices, the participants will develop critical perspectives that determine framing of time, space, people and narratives. The inputs, interactions and exercises balance the technical rigor of cinematography, field recording, and linear editing with the art of ethical non-fiction storytelling.
Pedagogical Focus: Language of Cinema; Visual Anthropology; Classical and Creative Documentary Practices.
Output: Participants make short creative documentaries – while building foundational competencies in documentary research, filming, sound recording and editing.
Module-2: Auroville
Actualization of the Self /Cultivating the Inward Gaze /Self → Story:
Ethos: Auroville is an intentional, international township dedicated to human unity and transformation of consciousness. Off the Coromandel Coast, nestled in the regenerated tropical landscape, Auroville offers a context for self-reflection, experimentation and exploration – urging an inner inquiry and alignment.
Exercises: This module shifts to the Inward Gaze, moving from the external environment to the self as the primary site of inquiry. Through creative exercises, reflective practices and artistic experimentation, participants explore memory, identity, imagination, embodiment and consciousness as documentary material. Engaging with archives, personal histories, sensory experience and subjective forms of storytelling, they investigate how inner worlds may be translated into contemporary artistic forms – materializing inner architecture against the backdrop of this experimental township.
Pedagogical Focus: Expanded Documentary Practices; Experimental and Essayistic Cinema; Sensory & Auto-Ethnographic Experiments; Archival and Media Practices.
Output: Participants develop experimental films, contemporary media projects, archival works and video installations – that explore personal histories, embodied experience and self-reflective modes of storytelling.
Between Module 1 and 2, the participants move from exploring the macro-canvas (landscape, ecology, community, history and environment in Ladakh) to the micro-canvas (memory, perception, embodiment and subjectivity in Auroville). This progression ensures that the participants are equipped to develop independent projects that integrate environmental awareness, critical inquiry and personal vision.
Module-3: Self Directed Projects @ Site of Choice
Self → Surrounding → Story:
Participants undertake independent documentary or media arts projects at a site of their choice. Mentorship is provided throughout the stages of research, project development, proposal writing, production planning and execution. Participants are encouraged to develop projects that emerge from their own interests while drawing upon the conceptual, technical and methodological foundations established during the first two modules.
Module-4: Auroville
Consolidation of Projects & Portfolios:
The final module is dedicated to completing productions and consolidating work developed throughout the year. Participants prepare portfolios and receive orientation to contemporary production ecosystems, and avenues of distribution and dissemination relevant to documentary arts and interdisciplinary media practice.
Learning Environment :
Periodic student-led study circles are integrated into the programme to accommodate specific interests and emerging lines of inquiry. Site visits and study tours form an essential component of the curriculum, allowing participants to engage directly with the cultural, ecological, historical and social dimensions of both regions. The dialogue between Auroville and Ladakh forms a unique pedagogical axis within the programme. Auroville, an international experimental township on the Coromandel Coast, and Ladakh, a trans-Himalayan high-altitude region shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, offer radically different spatial, ecological and temporal realities. Together, these environments provide fertile ground for artistic experimentation, interdisciplinary dialogue and the development of new documentary forms.
RESOURCE PERSONS:
The OSDA Programme is led by a team of documentary practitioners, artists, researchers, educators and interdisciplinary field experts whose work spans cinema, contemporary arts, anthropology, ecology, performance, archival practices and community-based knowledge systems.
Programme Leadership:
Curriculum Designer & Programme Director : Richa Hushing
Associate Leads : Rrivu Laha; Debkamal Ganguly
Advisors: Sonam Wangchuk; Gitanjali J. Angmo
Faculty Constellation:
Module 1 – Ladakh
Sonam Wangchuk –
Understanding Ladakh: Ecology, Society and Contemporary Realities
Richa Hushing –
Documentary Arts Practice – Philosophy & Direction
Rrivu Laha –
Documentary Arts Practice, Media and Critical Inquiry
Debkamal Ganguly –
Research Methodology, Cinematic Time, Cinematic Space, Editing Practice
Deepti Gupta –
Documentary Cinematography
Stanzin Dorjai Gya –
Regional Documentary Practice and Independent Filmmaking
Gitanjali J Angmo –
Integral Yoga and Contemplative Practice
Additional Field Experts:
Rev. Elijah Spalbar Gergan; Padma Shri Morup Namgyal; Tswang Namgyal; Prof. Tashi Dawa; Viraf Mehta and others. (Additional experts and knowledge holders from the region will contribute through lectures, dialogues, field visits and site-based engagements)
Module 2 – Auroville
Richa Hushing –
Personal Archaeology and Jungian Approaches to Filmmaking
Dr. Soudhamini –
Self as the Site: Cinematic Practice and Direction
Alok Arora & Rukshana Tabassum –
Performance, Embodiment and the Michael Chekhov Technique
Anuja Ghosalkar –
Documentary Theatre and Hybrid Storytelling Practices
Rrivu Laha –
The Ground We Tread: Documentary Practice and Media Inquiry
Debkamal Ganguly –
New Media &Performance Art -History, Philosophy &Contemporary Practice
Ishita Shah –
Creative Documentation, Archiving and Curatorial Practice
To be announced –
Aiding Documentary Workflows with AI Tools.
Aurovilian Residents –
Understanding Auroville: Histories, Aspirations and Living Experiments
Divyanshi Chugh / Sanjana Reddy –
Integral Yoga and the Purnam Community of Integrality
Additional Field Experts:
Contributors from the Town Development Council, forest and farm communities, and the Residents’ Assembly of Auroville will participate through lectures, dialogues and field-based learning engagements.
Module 3 – Site of Choice
Participants will receive project-specific mentorship from:
• Internal mentors appointed by AVFI and HIAL
• External mentors identified and invited in consultation with project holders
Mentorship will support research, project development, production planning and execution.
Module 4 – Auroville
• Portfolio Development -(Resource Person to be Announced)
• Production Ecosystems and Market Mapping for Documentary Arts -(to be Announced)
Programme Support
HIAL – Dr. Deldan Kunzes; Dechen Spalzes; Chimath Dorjay
AVFI – Sanket Ray; Raj Katare; Tiyasha Ghosh
Divyanshi Chugh
Faculty Mentor | Integral Yoga & Contemplative Practice
Divyanshi Chugh is a practitioner and educator based in Auroville, working within the framework of Integral Yoga as articulated by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. She is associated with the Purnam Community, where she facilitates a “collective yoga” approach integrating inner development with everyday life and action. Grounded in the philosophy that “all life is yoga,” her work focuses on making spirituality experiential and practically lived. With academic training from Lady Sri Ram College and the University of Oxford, she brings together scholarly inquiry and practice-based engagement. At OSDA, she contributes to the contemplative dimension of the programme, supporting participants in cultivating awareness, inner alignment and reflective practices that support artistic and documentary exploration.
STUDENT PROFILE:
The programme is designed for emerging filmmakers, artists, architects, designers, anthropologists, researchers and interdisciplinary practitioners interested in exploring documentary as a creative, critical and socially engaged practice. Applicants need not possess prior filmmaking qualifications, but should demonstrate curiosity, commitment and a sustained interest in a chosen area of inquiry. Regional admissions from Auroville bioregion and Ladakh are encouraged.
BASIC QUALIFICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:
Step1 – Applications will be shortlisted on the basis of 2 main factors:
(i) Up to 250 words statement of Purpose / motivation to join the programme.
(ii) General Orientation -not necessarily related to filmmaking; but reflecting specific interests.
Step2 – Online interaction with Shortlisted Applicants.
Final Selected Applicants will be guided to the HIAL portal to confirm registration of the admission.
Minimum age required to participate in the programme is 18+; No upper age limit.
INFRASTRUCTURE:
This being a site-centric course, prime emphasis will be exposure to a range of sites and facilitating extensive field-work; also facilitating interaction and integration with the local communities. Mobility during organized field visits will be taken care of in Auroville as well as Ladakh. However, mobility required for individual and smaller group exercises is expected to be worked out by respective individuals/groups. A local study station – will be available, well equipped with screening facilities. Conference Halls and Auditorium will be available as and when needed in the schedule.
EQUIPMENT:
Students are expected to bring: (i) Camera (ii) Tripod (iii) Sound Recording Device (iv) Editing Laptop. Additional gears are an advantage – however not compulsory. No specific recommendations for the camera models. The editing machine however, should be capable enough to process footage shot from one’s own camera, whichever camera one may have. Those willing to purchase new equipment specifically for this programme may consult us.
AVFI – HIAL will have equipment sets; they will be used for demonstrations; they can be issued to the students as back up on special requests – as and when required.
CERTIFICATION:
Diploma Certificate will be issued by HIAL in association with AVFI.
FEES:
For Indian Students : – ₹ 2,00,000/-
For International Students:- € 5000/-
*Please refer t0 this PDF to see the list of countries eligible for subsidised international fee.
*The fee does not include accommodation. Accommodation charges will be approximately ₹8000 per month in Ladakh and Auroville. Guest Houses in Auroville and Campus Accommodation in Ladakh will be facilitated on twin/triple sharing basis. Those preferring single occupancy can opt for it at a premium. Meals can be opted locally at basic rates on subscriptions.
QUERIES:
AVFI at info@aurovillefilminstitute.com /
+91 9969879319 (Richa) / +91 9767475001 (Tiyasha)
HIAL at study@hail.edu.in /
+91 7051992140 (Dechen)
KEY RESOURCE PERSONS’ PROFILES :
Sonam Wangchuk
Programme Advisor | Field Mentor
Sonam Wangchuk is an innovator, education reformer and co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL). Widely recognized for his pioneering work in contextual education and sustainable development in the Himalayan region, he has dedicated his career to creating learning models that integrate local knowledge, ecological responsibility and practical problem-solving. His initiatives have inspired generations of learners to engage critically with the environmental and social realities of their communities. Through HIAL, he continues to advocate for experiential, transdisciplinary and place-based approaches to education that respond to contemporary challenges while remaining rooted in local contexts. Within OSDA, Sonam contributes a deep understanding of Ladakh’s ecological, social and cultural landscape, helping participants situate documentary practice within broader questions of environment, community and responsible futures.
Gitanjali J. Angmo
Programme Advisor | Field Mentor
Gitanjali J. Angmo is an educator, social entrepreneur and co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh. Her work focuses on developing inclusive and context-responsive educational environments that support individual growth, collective wellbeing and community participation. Deeply engaged with holistic approaches to learning, she has played a significant role in shaping educational programmes that connect inner development with ecological awareness and social responsibility. Her work at HIAL reflects a commitment to nurturing reflective, compassionate and engaged learners capable of responding creatively to the challenges of contemporary life. Through her involvement in OSDA, Gitanjali contributes perspectives on contemplative practice, integral approaches to education and the relationship between inner awareness and meaningful engagement with the world.
Rrivu Laha
Programme Advisor | Faculty Mentor
Rrivu Laha is a cinematographer, filmmaker, media practitioner and educator whose work spans documentary cinema, visual culture and critical media pedagogy. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India in Motion Picture Cinematography, he began his documentary practice with award-winning films exploring livelihood, performance traditions and community narratives. Alongside cinematography and filmmaking, Rrivu has worked extensively in educational media, audiovisual training and public knowledge initiatives, developing innovative approaches to media as a tool for learning and social engagement. His interests lie in understanding how cinematic language evolves within changing technological and cultural environments. Since moving to Auroville in 2017, he has collaborated on archival and media art projects, including the research-driven Auroville Timelines initiative, and co-founded the Auroville Film Institute. Within OSDA, he contributes perspectives on documentary practice, media ecology, critical inquiry and contemporary approaches to image-making.
Richa Hushing
Curriculum Designer & Programme Director
Richa Hushing is a filmmaker, editor, educator and audiovisual archivist whose work bridges cinema, anthropology, pedagogy and community engagement. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (TV Direction, 2005), her practice has evolved through documentary filmmaking, archival research and site-based learning initiatives. Early engagements with Majlis and the pioneering media archive pad.ma shaped her enduring interest in memory, fragments and non-linear approaches to storytelling. Her films, including Devrai – The Sacred Groves and Nicobar, a long way…, explore the intersections of ecology, culture, place and resilience, and have been screened at international documentary festivals across Europe and Asia. Since relocating to Auroville in 2017, she has co-founded the Auroville Film Institute and developed pedagogical frameworks that approach cinematic practice as a process of observation, inquiry and transformation. Through OSDA, she brings together her interests in documentary arts, environmental consciousness, archives and experiential education.
Debkamal Ganguly
Faculty Mentor
Debkamal Ganguly is an independent filmmaker, researcher and educator whose work brings together cinematic practice, film philosophy, editing and artistic research. A graduate of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata, he taught for eight years at the Film and Television Institute of India, where he contributed to curriculum development, interdisciplinary teaching and pedagogical innovation across the departments of Editing, Direction and Screenplay Writing. His creative work has received national and international recognition, including the Tiger Award for Shorts at Rotterdam and the Special Jury Award for Non-Fiction at the Indian National Film Awards. Alongside filmmaking, Debkamal has presented research internationally on cinema, sound, memory, intertextuality and media studies, with publications appearing in academic journals and edited volumes. At OSDA, he brings a rare combination of artistic practice and theoretical rigor, guiding participants through questions of cinematic form, editing, narrative construction and contemporary media practices.
Dr. Soudhamini
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Soudhamini is a filmmaker, artist and educator whose work over the past three decades has explored the fertile intersections between cinema, music, performance, ritual and vernacular cultural traditions of South India. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, she began her professional journey assisting the renowned filmmaker Mani Kaul before developing a distinctive interdisciplinary practice across documentary film, fiction, experimental media and installation art. Her work has been commissioned by national and international institutions and screened at major festivals and cultural platforms worldwide. Central to her practice is an inquiry into how technology, embodiment and traditional knowledge systems can coexist in dynamic and non-hierarchical relationships. Within OSDA, she brings a rich understanding of self-reflective artistic practice, embodiment and experimental approaches to cinematic expression, particularly within the Auroville module.
Deepti Gupta
Faculty Mentor | Documentary Cinematography
Deepti Gupta is a cinematographer and visual artist whose practice spans documentary filmmaking, independent cinema and collaborative image-making. Working across diverse geographies and production contexts, she brings a strong observational approach to cinematography, with a focus on light, space, landscape and lived experience. Her work reflects a sensitivity to both the technical and poetic dimensions of the moving image, often rooted in long-form engagement with subjects and environments. Alongside her creative practice, she has been involved in mentoring and film education, guiding emerging practitioners in developing visual clarity and ethical attentiveness in documentary work. At OSDA, she contributes her experience in documentary cinematography, helping participants refine their visual language, technical skills and perceptual awareness in field-based filmmaking contexts.
Stanzin Dorjai Gya
Faculty Mentor
Stanzin Dorjai Gya is an internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker from Ladakh whose work is deeply rooted in the lived realities of Himalayan communities. Raised in the village of Gya, he brings an intimate understanding of the region’s landscapes, cultures and changing ecological conditions. Through his production company Himalayan Film House, he has created a body of work that foregrounds local voices while addressing broader questions of climate change, adaptation and cultural continuity. His celebrated film Shepherdess of the Glaciers received more than twenty international awards, including the Grand Prize at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, and established him as one of the most significant contemporary documentary voices from the Himalayas. At OSDA, Stanzin offers participants insights into place-based storytelling, independent filmmaking and the ethical responsibilities of representing communities from within.
Anuja Ghosalkar
Faculty Mentor
Anuja Ghosalkar is a theatre-maker, writer, actor and director whose work has been instrumental in developing new forms of documentary theatre in India. Through her company Drama Queen, she creates performances that draw upon oral histories, photographs, archival material and lived experiences, expanding the possibilities of non-fiction storytelling across stage and media. Her practice combines rigorous research with experimental forms, often exploring the intersections between memory, performance and personal narrative. Alongside her theatre work, she has been associated with film research, arts programming, moving image culture and interdisciplinary curatorial initiatives. Her projects frequently foreground voices and histories that remain underrepresented within mainstream narratives. At OSDA, Anuja introduces participants to documentary theatre, performance-based inquiry and hybrid storytelling approaches that bridge archival research, embodiment and contemporary documentary practice.
Ishita Shah
Faculty Mentor
Ishita Shah is a curator, archivist, researcher and educator whose work focuses on cultural preservation, community archives and creative approaches to knowledge-making. Trained in interior design and architectural history, she has developed an interdisciplinary curatorial practice that connects memory, place and public engagement. Through her collective Curating for Culture, she collaborates with individuals, families and institutions to build sustainable archival cultures across India and South Asia. Her work spans oral histories, community archiving, exhibition-making and public interpretation projects, and includes collaborations with cultural, environmental and educational organisations. As a consultant archivist and curator, she continues to explore how archives can become active, participatory spaces for reflection and dialogue. At OSDA, Ishita guides participants in working with personal and collective archives, documentation practices and the creative possibilities of memory as documentary material.
Alok Arora
Actor & Michael Chekhov Practitioner
Alok Arora is a trained actor from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and a certified teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique (MICHA, USA). He is the founder of The Chekhov Lab under his creative practice The Artistic Self, where he develops actor-training and expressive exploration programmes rooted in imagination, embodiment, and psychophysical awareness. His work focuses on the actor as a site of inquiry, where inner life, physical presence, and creative imagination are brought into dynamic alignment. Alok’s professional practice spans film, web series, and theatre, with performances noted for their emotional precision and psychological depth. Alongside his work as a performer, he has been engaged in pedagogy for over six years, including his tenure at Actor Prepares, where he has trained more than 2,000 students in performance and expressive technique. Within OSDA, he contributes to performance-based inquiry, guiding participants to integrate body, imagination, and emotional presence as tools for cinematic, documentary, and embodied storytelling practice.
Rukshana Tabassum
Filmmaker, Visual Artist & Educator
Rukshana Tabassum is a filmmaker, writer, visual artist and educator whose practice explores the intersections of memory, emotion, body and everyday life. Her work reflects an interest in how lived experience and inner landscapes shape narrative perception and visual storytelling. Raised in Assam, she developed an early engagement with painting and classical dance, which continue to inform her artistic language. She is trained in Bharatanatyam and holds a Parangata (Advanced Diploma) from the Nalanda Dance Research Centre, and continues to train under her guru, Elora Bora. She is a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Her films Apples and Oranges and The Cake Story have received National Film Awards, along with recognition at national and international festivals focused on children’s and youth cinema. Within OSDA, Rukshana brings an interdisciplinary approach to visual storytelling, working across film, painting and embodied practice to explore inner perception, memory and narrative form.
Kripa and Kali Borg
Aurovilians- Free Progress Approach
Kripa & Kali are early Auroville residents who grew up within the township and are closely rooted in its evolving educational and community processes. Their work is informed by Auroville’s Free Progress approach and its lived experiment in collective learning, human unity and self-directed growth. Kripa has been associated with Last School, while Kali has worked with Eco Service, engaging directly with Auroville’s alternative education and ecological stewardship practices. Together, they bring an experiential understanding of Auroville as a living field of learning shaped by daily participation, responsibility and observation. Within the OSDA framework of Self–Surrounding–Story, they support participants in engaging with Auroville not as an abstract idea but as an active, evolving environment where personal inquiry, community life and ecological awareness are continuously interwoven through practice and lived experience.
Auroville Film Institute 