Green Media Program
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Almost two decades ago, Docskool laid out the foundation for independent media practice, aspiring and inspiring a generation of Nepal’s independent filmmakers. Today, we continue to add on a layer to that very foundation of visual culture by working with creators whose work are rarely seen and funded in mainstream events.
Committed to the possibility of bringing a positive change through visual medium, we have broadened our work areas making it hyper localized. Though we primarily work with filmmakers, we have also joined hands with social campaigners including feminist, queer activists and environment defenders, equipping them with visual storytelling skills to create a lasting impact in the locality.
At Docskool, we don’t just teach or train; we explore, experiment, and grow together providing a life-long companionship in this journey of life.
Docskool was setup as a screening room and film resource library at a garage top room in Gaurighat in 2008. Our formation coincides with the then recently held ‘Constitution Assembly’ elections and the dethroning of Monarchy in 2006.
2008 – 2012 are best understood as our formative years when Docskool worked on a variety of cinema support mechanisms that included the 5 Rupee cinema fund, a film production support known as Short film factory. In 2011 Docskool organized the Nepal Cine Symposium attempting to bring South Asian cinema closer through interactions, film festival (Something like a film festival) and a pitch based film market (young Asian film market).
Docskool journeyed into working with East African filmmakers from Uganda in 2012 as we helped design strategic directions for the now defund Zuka Film Foundation in Kampala and initiated dialogues on a film center in the city of Gulu in northern Uganda.
Docskool’s Clinik.Kathmandu project lab for South Asian cinema was launched in 2013 with its last season held in 2019. The lab supported over 80 fiction and documentary feature projects from 9 countries as we partnered with several local film collectives and global film markets, festivals from the world over.
The Queer film Festival was programmed in 2023 as part of the second edition of SLFF, with the festival being formally organised in 2024. In 2024 a fellowship for environmental defenders has been launched to be conducted from Docskool’s farm campus in Dhulikhel.
Mission
Docskool works with mid career documentary filmmakers, community media workers and social movements as we host creative exchanges and skill bridging on contemporary film practice. We connect historically marginalized audiences as creators to reshape their narratives.
Goal 2026
Our 2026 strategy outlines safety and security to documentary filmmakers promoting documentary visibility in Nepal as a priority. We continue working with grassroots environmental defenders and queer people’s towards informed access for locally applicable visual media production.
Docskool’s executive board is reelected every two years. Current board of directors elected in 2024 are.
- Kshitiz Adhiraj(Chairperson, Founder Docskool)
- Pashupati Rai(Vice-Chairperson, Esteemed actor)
- Mahesh Shrestha(General Secretary, Media Campaigner)
- Shrijana Bhandari(Secretary)
- Ajay Gautam (Treasurer)
- Shail Shrestha (Member, Environment focal person)
- Ranju Danuwar (Member)
- Anita Gautam (Focal person – Green Media Program)
- Sashul Shrestha (Cinema Manager, Head of administration)
- Pinki Sris Rana (Festival Coordinator, Queer Film Festival Kathmandu)
- Gaurav Kandel (Principal Advisor, Queer Film festival Kathmandu)
- Prashant Pun Magar (Residency focal person)
- Bomjar Boje (Communication Officer_Intern)
Ongoing Initiatives
Queer Film Festival
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Filmmaker Accompaniment
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