Inside the Impact Storytelling Masterclass at WIFF Mumbai 2025: At the Waterfront Indie Film Festival Mumbai 2025, filmmakers and changemakers came together to explore how storytelling can transcend entertainment — becoming a force for awareness, empathy, and transformation.

Cinema has always reflected the times we live in, but some films go beyond mirroring reality — they move it. At the recently concluded Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) Mumbai 2025, a powerful masterclass titled “Storytelling That Etches Lasting Change” explored how filmmakers, producers, and storytellers can embed social purpose into their narratives without losing artistic or entertainment value.
Curated and moderated by Anupama Mandloi, former Managing Director of Fremantle India, former Head of Programming at Sony Pictures, and Producer of the award-winning documentary Aunty Sudha, Aunty Radha directed by Tanuja Chandra, the session was presented in collaboration with the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA) — a pioneering network at the forefront of justice-centered storytelling and documentary impact worldwide.

The Rise of Impact Storytelling
The concept of “impact producing” — using film as a tool to influence awareness, social participation, and policy — has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. Emerging from early 2000s initiatives in the US, led by filmmakers and organisations like Active Voice and Working Films, the practice was formally coined by Doc Society in 2012. Since then, global gatherings — including the first assembly at IDFA in 2015 — have expanded its reach across continents.

Today, GIPA represents a network of nearly 500 members from 42 countries, supporting sustainability, equity, and community in the filmmaking ecosystem. From funding campaigns to post-release advocacy, impact producing has become an integral part of how socially conscious films shape dialogue and drive measurable change.
It was in this global context that WIFF Mumbai hosted its first masterclass on Impact Storytelling — a sign of how Indian independent cinema is stepping forward to integrate purpose with creativity.

A Masterclass in Meaning
Moderated with insight and empathy by Anupama Mandloi, the discussion brought together a diverse panel of speakers:

• Miriam Chandy Menacherry, award-winning documentary filmmaker, she won the Swarna Kamal for Best Director in the non-feature film category, for From the Shadows (2022), known for her ability to translate grassroots realities into cinematic advocacy.
• Poorva Bhat, independent filmmaker and researcher exploring intersections of gender and media in India’s changing social landscape.
• Kashmira Patil, media educator and creative producer deeply involved in community-centered cinema and participatory storytelling.
• Aranya Sahay, emerging filmmaker whose award winning feature Humans in the Loop closed WIFF 2025, representing the new wave of socially conscious cinematic voices.

The masterclass unfolded as a deeply reflective exchange on how films can move from being stories we watch to experiences that make us act. Mandloi began by asking a question at the heart of the conversation: “How do filmmakers and impact producers turn real-life issues into compelling stories that influence perception, awareness, and participation — even policy?”
The responses were as varied as they were powerful.

Beyond the Screen: Voices of Change
Poorva Bhat captured the mood perfectly: “Though the session was designed for audiences new to the space of impact campaigns, I found myself learning deeply as a panellist. This masterclass was led with such pure intention that is rare to find these days.”
For Miriam Chandy, whose films often merge investigative depth with human compassion, impact lies in creating dialogue where silence once existed: “Anupama was able to curate a panel that ranged from young emerging filmmakers to veterans and industry experts who have entered this new and exciting space — mapping campaigns around films that extend beyond the screen. Films can open doors to communities and conversations that are otherwise rarely addressed.”

Kashmira Patil added another layer, reflecting on the creative responsibility behind such storytelling: “It was inspiring and especially interesting to observe how the common intent of impact storytelling has translated uniquely in each of our journeys. It’s promising that many filmmakers are now choosing impact not as an afterthought, but as a core creative and ethical choice.”
For the young filmmaker Aranya Sahay, the experience was both enlightening and affirming: “A discussion on impact filmmaking and distribution is essential in the ever-evolving landscape of the film industry. Being in the company of seasoned professionals who have practised and shaped this craft for nearly two decades was a truly enriching experience. The session was deftly moderated by Anupama, and the exchange of experiential insights felt nothing short of miraculous. It was a rare and valuable opportunity to learn from those who’ve walked the path and continue to redefine the space with purpose and passion.”

 

Building a New Narrative
Anupama Mandloi highlighted how the notion of impact is evolving even within mainstream entertainment: “Impact is increasingly relevant to all filmmakers today, as it enables them to explore alternative models of distribution and funding while using their films as powerful tools for change. It was encouraging to see WIFF embrace forward-looking themes like Impact Production within the festival. It was an especially insightful session for me to learn from the guest speakers who shared their personal journeys replete with anecdotes and lessons. Our masterclass was followed by a mixer hosted by the Global Impact Producers Alliance, creating a space for everyone to connect, exchange ideas, and share experiences. I hope that more and more festivals will integrate impact sessions into their programming.”
Cinema That Moves Hearts and Minds

One thing is clear: impact storytelling isn’t an abstract ideal — it’s a practical, evolving methodology that empowers filmmakers to use their craft as a vehicle for empathy and change.
As one attendee remarked while leaving Versova Social, where the masterclass was held: “This is where cinema returns to its roots — telling stories that matter.”

WIFF Mumbai 2025, in aligning itself with global movements like GIPA through the work of its Advisory Board member Anupama Mandloi, has positioned itself not just as a festival of films, but as a festival of ideas — where cinema becomes a catalyst for conversation, collaboration, and collective action.

In a world saturated with content, perhaps this is what will set the next generation of storytellers apart: not just the stories they tell, but the change they inspire.