Vision

To build India’s most credible film and storytelling platform that advances Ambedkarite values of equality, justice, liberty, fraternity, and promotes inclusive economic thinking through powerful cinema.

Objectives

• Promote inclusive storytelling that reflects the realities and contributions of marginalized and underrepresented communities.
• Create a national platform for new filmmakers, youth creators, and community storytellers.
• Encourage content that supports economic justice, entrepreneurship, skilling, dignity of labour, and social reform.
• Drive dialogue between industry leaders, policymakers, creators, educators, and communities on inclusion and equity.
• Enable sustainable creative careers by linking filmmakers to markets, mentors, and opportunities.

Focus Themes

• Social justice and constitutional values
• Entrepreneurship, MSMEs, and first-generation enterprise journeys
• Women-led leadership and economic independence
• Disability inclusion, accessibility, and dignity
• LGBTQ+ inclusion, rights, and livelihoods
• DTNT and Minority community voices
• Education, skilling, and employment
• Financial inclusion and grassroots innovation
• Rural enterprise, artisanship, and dignity of labour

Key Components

Film Screenings & Competition

• Short films, documentaries, feature films, student films, and regional cinema
• Special categories encouraging first-time filmmakers and community-based productions

Leadership Discussions & Dialogues

• “Cinema for Social Change”
• “Enterprise-led Inclusion”
• “Representation, Identity and Economic Justice”
• “Access, Opportunity and Equity in India”

Workshops & Masterclasses

• Scriptwriting, documentary making, editing, sound, distribution, pitching
• Sessions on “Responsible storytelling” and “Inclusive narratives”

Awards & Recognition

• Best Social Impact Film
• Best Film on Economic Empowerment
• Best Emerging Filmmaker
• Best Student Film
• Inclusion and Accessibility Award
• People’s Choice Award

Marketplace / Pitch Forum 

• Pitching forum for creators to present projects to mentors, producers, and funders
• Support for distribution pathways and collaborations

Target Participants

• Independent filmmakers, documentary makers, student creators
• Social sector and community organizations
• MSMEs and startups aligned with inclusion and impact
• Academia, youth groups, and cultural institutions
• Policymakers, CSR/ESG leaders, and ecosystem enablers

Expected Outcomes

• Strong national visibility for inclusive cinema and underrepresented voices
• New opportunities for creators from marginalized groups
• Public discourse strengthened around dignity, inclusion, and economic justice
• Partnerships across CSR/ESG, institutions, and creator ecosystems
• A long-term cultural movement aligned with ACCI’s mission of economic empowerment

The first Ambedkar Film Festival (AFF)

The first Ambedkar Film Festival (AFF) will be held in January 2027 in Pune and will be a three-day national platform curated by the Ambedkar Chamber of Commerce and Industry™ to celebrate cinema that advances the values of equality, dignity, inclusion, and economic justice. Over three days, the festival will feature curated screenings of impactful films—shorts, documentaries, and features—along with dialogues, workshops, and interactions.