Art of Seeing with Deepti Gupta IWCC, ISC
23rd – 27th Sept 2026 | 5 day residency | Phyang, Ladakh
as a part of Open Space Documentary Arts Programme
Overview
Through five interconnected inquiries, participants are guided to:
Building a superstructure with edit in mind
Working with story progression in sequences, character, and film arc. How to assimilate it constantly, and in each shot while filming?
Connecting to Protagonist and story
How to build a film by first seeping into the narrative and character? Discovering intention in the story and the self. Nurturing connection.
Arriving at the gaze, the aesthetics, politics & relationally to character
How to find the way of seeing the film? The politics and the aesthetic of the gaze.
Choosing Cinematic style
verite, poetic etc. Tailoring the visual grammar of the film to the narrative, finding the style for each film we make.
Constructing a scene arc
How to understand scene arc while filming? What to look for when filming each shot and scene with that framework? How to arrive at the conclusion of a scene being filmed?
Participant Profile
Filmmakers, cinematographers, documentary practitioners and visual artists interested in deepening the relationship between seeing, intention and form in non-fiction cinema.
Faculty profile
Deepti Gupta is a Director of Photography, Filmmaker and alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), specialising in Motion Picture Photography. Deepti finds enrichment in working across genres, as it allows her to engage in varied visual styles.
As Director of Photography, her documentary credits include Shut Up Sona, Murder in a Courtroom, Laxmi and Me, and City of Photos, among others. As a Director, Deepti directed, shot and co-produced her debut feature documentary, Shut Up Sona. She is currently developing and producing documentary projects through her company, Earthsong Films.
Deepti is co-founder of the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC) and a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC).
CERTIFICATION:
E-Certificate of participation will be issued jointly by Auroville Film Institute.
FEES:
For India and SAARC Nations – ₹ 17000/-
For Other International Participants – € 250/-
**The fee does not include accommodation. Campus Accommodation will be facilitated on a twin/triple sharing basis. Those preferring single occupancy can opt for it at a premium. Accommodation charges will be approximately ₹600 – 1200 per day.
EQUIPMENT DETAILS :
We believe the equipment you have is the best equipment to make your film with. As you are familiar with your own equipment, you can learn to utilize it better. Basic equipment: (i) Camera (ii) Tripod (iv) Editing Laptop – expected. 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.
QUERIES:
AVFI at info@aurovillefilminstitute.com / +91 7738350506 (Sanket Ray)