Our Mission
To nurture independent documentary storytelling by creating spaces for filmmakers to learn, connect, collaborate and grow, while strengthening the creative, professional, and cultural ecosystem around documentary cinema.
About DRI
About Documentary Resource Initiative
Documentary Resource Initiative (DRI) is a Kolkata-based not-for-profit organisation working to strengthen the independent documentary ecosystem in India. DRI brings together filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences to create opportunities for learning, collaboration and engagement around documentary cinema.
Through its programmes and initiatives, DRI supports documentary storytellers at different stages of their creative journey. From incubation and training to industry activities and conversations, DRI creates spaces where filmmakers can develop their practice, connect with others, and explore new possibilities for their work.
At the heart of DRI is a commitment to nurturing homegrown stories and encouraging dialogue around the art and practice of documentary filmmaking. By building a vibrant and connected community, DRI works towards a stronger and more sustainable documentary culture in India.
What Drives Us
Purpose, perspective and principles
Our Vision
A world where documentary storytelling thrives as a powerful force for truth, empathy, and social change, with independent voices finding the space, support, and audiences they need to be heard.
Our Values
- • Integrity & Ethics
- • Diversity & Inclusion
- • Collaboration & Community
- • Learning & Growth
- • Impact & Responsibility
What We Do
Building the Ecosystem Behind Meaningful Stories
We create platforms, programmes and opportunities that support documentary filmmakers at different stages of their creative journey. Through incubation, training, industry engagement and knowledge-sharing, we help filmmakers develop their ideas, strengthen their practice and connect with the wider documentary community.
Our work brings together people, knowledge, resources and audiences to create meaningful spaces for learning, collaboration and exchange around documentary cinema.
What We Are
Because Stories Can Create Lasting Change
Documentary gives people and communities a space to be seen, heard, and understood. It allows us to encounter different realities, question familiar perspectives, and engage more deeply with the world around us.
We believe a strong documentary culture creates space for diverse voices, meaningful dialogue, and deeper understanding. By nurturing filmmakers and connecting them with audiences and the wider industry, we work towards a more vibrant and connected documentary ecosystem.
OUR IMPACT
A snapshot of the communities, filmmakers and opportunities strengthened through our work.
2003–04
Documentary Resource Initiative is conceptualised around the need to build a support, mentoring and networking ecosystem for independent documentary filmmakers, leading to the creation of DocedgeKolkata.
2012
DocedgeKolkata reaches its 9th edition, strengthening its role as an intensive training, mentoring and pitching platform for Indian and Asian documentary filmmakers.
2015
The 12th edition of DocedgeKolkata brings together more than 50 participants and observers, including international projects, mentors and industry professionals.
2017
Let’sdoc Fellowship launches its structured mentoring programme for early-career documentary filmmakers, with two intensive sessions and development support for selected projects.
2018
DRI expands its travelling workshop and incubation work through Documentor, including the 3rd Documentor Imphal workshop for documentary project development and scriptwriting.
2020
Editcamp is launched as an intensive editing and mentoring lab for filmmakers with works-in-progress, with its first edition conducted online during the COVID-19 lockdown.
2021
DRI expands its international masterclass and documentary screening activities through Mind for Stories and LightSchool Screen, creating new spaces for dialogue between filmmakers, students and audiences.
2024
Green Stories launches its first edition in Goa, creating a mentoring and pitching platform for environment, conservation and wildlife documentaries from India, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
2026
DocedgeKolkata reaches its 23rd edition, bringing together incubation labs, screenings, talks, masterclasses, pitching and industry meetings for filmmakers from India and Asia.
What We Do
Alumni Voices
Hear directly from filmmakers and alumni whose creative journeys have been shaped through DRI's programmes, mentorship and networks.
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My journey started with DocedgeKolkata in 2021, an international pitch forum, where I had pitched Redlight to Limelight.
Sreemoyee Singh
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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It's an honour and privilege to finally share my finished film with mentors, peers and future filmmakers.
Arun Bhattarai
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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It was a wonderful experience sharing the projects at a fairly early stage with the mentors and peers. Presenting the film, developing the clearest and most impactful way to communicate our idea, and listening to feedback greatly helped us.
Anupama Srinivasan
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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In the Indian context, Docedge Kolkata is a rare and necessary space — where a documentarian's ambition meets the rigour of authorship.
Sushmit Ghosh
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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The situation changed when I pitched my film at Docedge Kolkata. It helped me to learn and visualize the narrative creatively. Docedge Kolkata has been an important part of starting the endeavour on the international circuit.
Bipuljit Basu
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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n the Indian context, Docedge Kolkata is a rare and necessary space — where a documentarian's ambition meets the rigour of authorship.
Rintu Thomas
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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DocedgeKolkata and Let’sdoc, where they train you to be at Docedge, were a discovery.
Sarvnik Kaur
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE & LET'SDOC Alumni
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A large part of the rise of Indian documentaries has to do with mentorship, incubation, and pitching labs like Docedge in Kolkata.
Vinay Shukla
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni
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I picked up the ropes of nonfiction filmmaking at Docedge Kolkata Asian Forum for Documentary. With spaces like these, you are mentored by masters and you figure out the ropes of the industry, the form and grammar.
Shaunak Sen
Filmmaker | DOCEDGE Alumni