How Films Have Driven Social Change at Kriti Film Club for the Last 25 Years

In August 2000, in a Delhi space with just a handful of viewers, a different kind of film club was born. There were no red carpets, no paparazzi, and no glossy premieres. Instead, there was one clear purpose: to bring powerful documentaries to people who might otherwise never see them, and to turn viewings into conversations that mattered.

That vision became the Kriti Film Club, founded by gender and development practitioner Aanchal Kapur, and it has endured for a quarter of a century.

From Modest Setting to Huge Public Venues

It all began in a modest New Delhi home setting—a second-hand 24-inch television, a small gathering of curious minds, and a powerful purpose. In an era before Google, Aanchal, coming from a background of activism, gender and development work, turned to word of mouth, CENDIT archives, and a few select festivals, building a network of screening partners who believed in this vision.

As demand and passion grew, screenings moved first to a slightly larger 27-inch TV in 2008, and then to prestigious public venues like India Habitat Centre by 2010. From an average audience of 50-60 to now hosting 150-250 plus, the club has grown over time, but has never gone without being housefull no matter the venue. People sit on floors, on stairs, anywhere possible to get a glimpse of the valuable films Kriti shows at their screenings and festivals.

Despite the more polished surroundings, the Club maintained its inclusive ethos: reaching students, activists, civil servants, artists, slum-dwelling youth—anyone with the will to engage with socially relevant documentaries.

Each screening is typically followed by a candid conversation—often with the filmmaker present. Kriti Film Club didn’t stop at monthly screenings. It spun off vibrant festivals like ecoReels (on environment, climate change, and sustainability), Beyond Borders Feminist Film Festival, and Bacchon ka Bioscope, a young people’s film festival. By 2019, the initiative had crossed regional boundaries, launching regular screenings in Mumbai via cafes and cultural hubs, alongside online screenings via their Doculive platform.

A Purpose Beyond Entertainment

Kriti has done much more than just screen documentaries. Over the years, it has curated a collection of over 900 films in its library, distributed documentaries through Doculive, and partnered with academic bodies and social sector organisations.

Unlike commercial cinemas, Kriti was never about ticket sales or glamour. It was built to be a meeting ground for critical ideas and critical audiences. That emphasis on action has set Kriti apart. Post-screening discussions are as essential as the films themselves. The curation, Aanchal explains, is guided by one principle: “Our curation process prioritises films that will challenge the audience to think and provide new perspectives, especially those with intersectional lenses.”

This commitment extends to platforming new voices too. Student films often find their first audiences here, making Kriti not only a space for watching films, but also for nurturing filmmakers. “We are keen on showcasing student films, viewing the festival as a stepping stone for emerging filmmakers,” Aanchal notes.

Holding On Without Selling Out

Kriti’s independence has always been part of its strength—and its struggle. From the start, it operated as a non-profit initiative, surviving on volunteer community support rather than institutional funding. “Initially, we collected donations in a ‘gulak’ at screenings, which supported local refreshments but it was never enough to contribute to filmmaker's or support our time,” Aanchal recalls.

One of Kriti’s core principles: it has never taken a grant or allowed commercial interests to shape its programming. Today, that gullak has evolved into the Audience and Filmmakers Fund, ensuring the Club’s independence and continuity as it crosses into its third decade. Yet with growing demand and costs, the club still struggles with funding as an initiative and finding people to crowdfund, but nothing deters them from their path.

But as the club grew, so did the demands. External venues were needed, volunteers carried the load, and sustainability became a pressing concern. “Over 25 years, the club has faced sustainability challenges due to a lack of dedicated funding, reliance on volunteers, and the need for external venues as we outgrew our initial workspace,” Aanchal admits.

Kriti currently runs their activities with a core team of 2 people and a set of 5-15 volunteers for different events.

From Screenings to a Hub

If the past 25 years have been about survival, the next chapter is about expansion. Kriti is already more than a film club; it’s an ecosystem. Monthly screenings remain at its core, but the ambition is bigger: to create digital and physical spaces where changemakers and filmmakers can connect.

“The Club focuses on making films accessible to both filmmakers and diverse audiences, setting it apart from mainstream cinema,” Aanchal explains.

After a quarter of a century, Kriti Film Club is not simply a platform for documentaries—it is a living reminder that films can do more than entertain. They can ask difficult questions, shift perspectives, and even spark collective action.