Netflix Launches India's First Climate Scriptwriting Lab to Build the Next Generation of Climate Storytellers

Today, Netflix and PLUC launched India's first Climate Scriptwriting Lab, an initiative to bring climate stories into the heart of mainstream Indian cinema. Developed under the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, the lab will engage 60 emerging writers across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Guwahati over eight months, supporting them in developing original scripts in feature film and short fiction formats. 

The Climate Scriptwriting Lab is designed to make climate themes part of mainstream storytelling by equipping a generation of writers to bring climate into the genres millions actually watch. Writers will be selected through an open national call and will participate in two-day in-person city labs before entering a five-month script development phase, mentored by renowned writers from the industry, Sumit Roy, Saiwyn Quadras, Chirag Garg, Akshat Verma, Kiren Dhadwal from Climate Spring, and Tamseel Hussain from PLUC. 

Mahima Kaul, Director, Global Affairs, Netflix India, said, "India has no shortage of climate stories; they are playing out every day, in every part of the country. What we have lacked is a structured pathway for writers to bring those stories into mainstream cinema. This lab is our commitment to building that, finding voices from across India and giving them the tools, mentorship, and industry connect to tell stories that millions will actually watch."

On Netflix, over 80% of members choose to watch at least one story that helps them better understand climate issues or highlights hopeful solutions around sustainability. More than 200 of these stories can be found in our Our World, Our Stories collection.

Applications for the lab are now open.