Greenstories returns to Goa in 2025: Asia’s Pioneering Wildlife & Environmental Film Lab Expands Its Vision

Panaji, Goa Nov 9, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - Greenstories returns to Goa in 2025: Asia’s Pioneering Wildlife & Environmental Film Lab Expands Its Vision

After a powerful debut in 2024, Greenstories, Asia’s first dedicated mentoring and pitching platform for wildlife and environmental documentaries, returns to Goa in November 2025. Designed to nurture bold, impactful and urgent environmental storytelling from Asia, this initiative continues to build a creative ecosystem for filmmakers working at the intersection of nature, climate, and community.

Supported by the National Geographic Society, Royal Enfield Social Mission and Rainmatter Foundation and hosted in association with Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts, Greenstories brings together filmmakers, mentors, and industry leaders to nurture impactful storytelling that addresses pressing environmental challenges. Partners like SONY India, NEWF South Africa, AltEff India, DMZ Docs Korea, CCCL Thailand and the Jackson Wild US reflect a collective commitment to strengthening climate narratives from the Global South and building real pathways for creative talent in Asia.

Over 100 submissions were received for the second edition, and 16 outstanding projects have been selected to participate in an intensive, four-day incubation lab where they will be mentored by global experts, including Emmy, Academy, and Peabody Award-winning filmmakers. This hands-on guidance will culminate in a major pitch event, where participants will present their projects to a panel of 25+ international and national broadcasters, distributors, foundations, and festival organisers, offering an unparalleled opportunity for global exposure and collaboration.

Why Greenstories Matters

Asia and the Global South are home to the most urgent environmental stories of our time—yet filmmakers continue to face barriers to funding, training, and global visibility. Greenstories builds the pathways that have long been missing.

Kaitlin Yarnall, Chief Storytelling Officer, National Geographic Society, highlighted the importance of the collaboration: "At the National Geographic Society, we believe in the power of stories to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Central to the power of our stories are the storytellers who dedicate their time, talent, and creativity to telling them. For this reason, we are honoured to work with Greenstories to further support storytellers in India, South Asia, and Southeast Asia—those dedicated to bringing stories that inspire illumination and protection."

"Greenstories is not just an event—it's a platform for change. Our vision is for Greenstories to evolve into a nurturing mentorship safe space for filmmakers, while also creating crucial access to markets and resources—something we all stumble around for. This first edition is a testament to collaboration and community, and we are grateful for the incredible support from all our supporters.” — Mike Pandey, Founder, Greenstories

" At Royal Enfield, we believe in the deep connection between communities and the natural world. Through initiatives like Greenstories, we aim to enable voices that champion these connections and drive awareness through powerful, purpose-led storytelling. We see this platform as a catalyst — one that not only nurtures creative talent but also sparks conversations and collective action towards environmental stewardship. By supporting Greenstories, we hope to create catalytic impact through this platform and storytelling that inspires people to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine their relationship with nature." - Vigyat Singh, Director, Eicher Group Foundation

“Art and film can move hearts before they change minds. Greenstories brings that spirit to life- creativity with a conscience right here in Goa’s beautiful and wild backyard aligning totally with Sunaparanta’s vision of art and environmental advocacy. As someone deeply passionate about wildlife and conservation, I’m delighted that this initiative of Green Stories is taking root here in Goa — where the forests and seas still whisper and storytelling reminds us why our planet is worth fighting for.” - Dattaraj V Salgaocar, Founder Patron, Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts

Isheta Salgaocar, Patron, Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts, emphasised the importance of art in environmental advocacy: "At Sunaparanta, we believe that art is a powerful tool for change, and storytelling is its most compelling expression. Greenstories aligns with our vision of using art and creativity to spark conversations around critical environmental challenges. We are excited to host this platform and foster a community of storytellers dedicated to making a difference."

Mukesh Srivastava, Head of Digital Imaging Business at Sony India said, “We are excited to be a part of Greenstories, a powerful initiative that puts wildlife & conservation stories at the center stage. At Sony, we duly understand the power of filmmaking and are grateful to provide all the technology support to help creators shape their vision.”

"Our goal is to build a sustainable, long-term platform that nurtures storytelling for environmental change. By creating a space for filmmakers to connect and collaborate, we hope to amplify stories that inspire empathy and action." - Rita Banerji, Founder, Greenstories,

"Greenstories embodies our commitment to nurturing the next generation of wildlife and environmental filmmakers. We believe that storytelling has the power to inspire change, and through this initiative, we aim to create a vibrant community that not only supports local talent but also amplifies crucial narratives around conservation and sustainability." — Nilotpal Majumdar, Founder, Greenstories

Key Highlights for 2025

Sunaparanta Residency: A 4-week annual residency and grant for one selected filmmaker
Co-production Support: Opportunities of up to INR 60 lakhs
Global Market Access: Festival and industry accreditations in the S., Korea, Europe and South Africa
New Fund: An INR 40 lakh fund in partnership with ALT EFF for a selected project at Greenstories 2025
To honour powerful Indigenous-led conservation storytelling, Greenstories will host a special screening of Yanuni — the award-winning film by Richard Ladkani, produced by Juma Xipaya, Anita Ladkani, and Leonardo DiCaprio — in partnership with Jackson Wild. The film has been celebrated at festivals including Tribeca, AFI, Sheffield DocFest, and São Paulo’s Mostra International Film Festival.

About Greenstories

Launched in April 2024, Greenstories is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to fostering impactful environmental storytelling in Asia and beyond. Greenstories is a collaboration between Earth Matters Foundation, Docedge, Documentary Resource Initiaive (DRI), Dusty Foot Foundation, Green Hub and Riverbank Studios, created to offer filmmakers a dedicated space to develop environmental narratives and access a global network of broadcasters, producers, and mentors. As we grow, our purpose remains grounded in community, collaboration, and impact.

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