From Botswana to India: IMMERSING IN GREEN STORIES
Words by Rufusiah Molefe
Nothing could have prepared me for the magic of India: the people, the landscape, its unique rhythm, the diversity of cultures and beautiful stories. I live for great stories. They inspire me, challenge my views, and push me to grow as a storyteller. Just as I started to working on my next film, I felt an intense need to step back and gain a critical perspective on my project. Right then, I discovered that NEWF had an open call for fellows to attend Greenstories Pitch as an observer, and took the leap.
With my relatively small exposure to Indian films through a television screen here in Botswana, I imagined India to be rich with profound stories. It has been a dream of mine to experience the Indian storytelling landscape in some way - however big or small - and Green Stories made that possible for me.
Introducing myself and my work at Green Stories in Goa.
At the pitch, the power of story was central. My storytelling needed to be anchored by a strong narrative structure with a clear purpose. We were introduced to specific techniques and principles I’d never encountered before, each one offering new perspectives. Each shedding light on different aspects of story development, particularly how to frame a story with funding in mind.
Through the narrative labs, I was struck by a powerful realization: many of the environmental issues and impacts we face in Africa also ripple through India and other Asian countries. This insight alone changed my approach to storytelling; I saw how much work I still had to do in crafting a truly authentic, unique, and resonant narrative.
While there, I connected with other filmmakers whose work I thought was amazing and inspiring, especially projects such as, Treaty with the Tiger by Ozair Bakht, Hands of Hope by Nidhi Kamath, Vanishing River by Paushali Saha & Shamik Sanyal, Where is my Cave by Bibin Joseph, Walking Gently by Deepti Murali & Etna Ozbek, Dreaming in Blue by Gunjan Menon & Saiyam Wakchaure, Beneath the Smog by Purnima Raghunath, India’s Elephant Man by Pooja Rathod and The Turtle Walker by Taira Malaney . These projects explored themes of climate change, human-animal co-existence, lives & survival of indigenous groups in wild spaces and the journey of resilience in the conservation world.
I also had the privilege of meeting Jai (Zai) Apte who was kind enough to read through my pitch deck and offer helpful and constructive feedback. She gave me a lot to think about in understanding the magnitude of the themes I intend to explore with my project ‘Drought Exodus’. I began to see how crucial it is to look at a project through the lens of other participants, writers, funders, distributors, and potential co-producers.
Making the most of my observer status by capturing insights.
The Greenstories Pitch community welcomed me with open arms and helped me reimagine my path forward as a filmmaker, showing me that storytelling is more than just a passion—it’s about perspective and a deep understanding of the industry’s many layers.
I felt at home, I felt I belonged - just like when I am with my tribe on the other side of the world. If the universe allows it, I look forward to connecting with this wonderful community in the magical country of India in the future.
Photographs courtesy of Green Stories.
