We’re pleased to announce that Project Denjong will be hosting the first ever film workshop in Gangtok (Sikkim)! This 5-day workshop will focus on encouraging youth to explore the often politicized themes of identity and culture through a new, creative, perspective that enables contemplation and dialogue. 

This is a 5-day workshop led by Tuning Fork Films, a Delhi-based collective of socially oriented filmmakers who use film as a medium for self-reflection, education, empowerment and social change. Tuning Fork Films has been making films and conducting filmmaking workshops across India with NGO’s, students, youth, teachers & communities, and have made films and held workshops for British Council, TERI, Conservation Wildlands, Azim Premji Foundation, INTACH, Sambodhi, The Hunger Project, UNDP, Vasant Valley School, SRUTI, Pravah, Manzil, IIIT-Hyderabad.

Participants in Gangtok will be introduced to the grammar of film as they learn to ‘read’ film. By watching fiction, documentaries, shorts, and commercial ads, they will learn about the history of cinema, discuss the importance of premise, perspectives, narrative style, structure, plot, the art of storytelling, and understand the role of music and sound.

Then – in groups of four – participants will explore visual composition and aesthetics to make their own short film! They will learn how to script and storyboard, how to shoot on DSLR cameras, edit on Pro Software, and layer sound and music.

This workshop – the first of its kind in Sikkim – is open to all ages and all skill levels. Project Denjong will be providing equipment, including Sony cameras and MacBooks but encourages participants to bring their own cameras/laptops if they have ones they are comfortable using.

We hope to introduce to our creative youth, key skills and processes of the film medium to start creating socially-sensitive short films with meaningful, constructive messages and visual content.

Image: The 12th Chogyal of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, shooting film c. 1957. Sikkim Palace Archives.