CMS VATAVARAN is a pioneering international festival of films on environment and wildlife. Using films as a window to delve into nature, the festival showcases the best of Indian and International films and documentaries, presenting nature stories from all over the world, stories on critical ecological and developmental challenges faced today, some of the most compelling practices as well as enchanting snippets on the diversity of our planet.
CMS VATAVARAN is not just a film festival celebrating the cinematic art of films but focuses more on using the films as a tool and catalyst for creating impact. CMS VATAVARAN remains resolute to encourage environment films and forums resulting change in perception, practice and policy.
CMS VATAVARAN, through its festival and forum design brings together some of the best conservation experts and enthusiasts from across the globe. Along with taking world’s best films on environment to the masses, it has been able to institutionalize strong specialised knowledge networking platforms, forge partnerships, and enhance capacities and expertise.
The main Competitive festival happens in New Delhi every alternate year, where the best entries from all over the world are nominated and awarded. Public screenings are held and a vast range of conservation issues are deliberated among practitioners and people in interactive sessions. The Traveling Festival then follows, where the festival’s vast panorama is shared with people in other cities of the country.
Through more than 3000 screenings across India, CMS VATAVARAN has been able to enhance understanding, appreciation and attitudes towards the natural world and increase space for environmental issues in mass media.
Since its inception in 2002, 7 competitive and 41 travelling festivals in 36 cities of 25 Indian states have been organised. CMS VATAVARAN has now become a movement and inspired many organisations & individuals to use films and film festivals as a medium to catalyse change.
It has reached to more than 5,00,000 people directly. As a result, it has created a strong network of Indian and International filmmakers, policymakers, academicians, research think tanks, environmentalists, journalists, students of all streams, defence & paramilitary forces and nature enthusiasts.