Roundglass Sustain, a non-profit foundation which commissioned this film, is the only conservation platform in India that collaborates with partners such as photographers, filmmakers and NGO’s to create stories that impact change and behavior. 

Back in 2014, wildlife filmmaker Ashika Kapur, who divides her time between Kolkata, India and the UK, won the biggest award in wildlife conservation, the Panda Award, which is affectionately called by industry insiders “the green Oscar.” Her film then was a documentary about an endangered New Zealand Kakapo Parrot called Sirocco.

An academically qualified science-communicator, Kapur is presently a Director at the BBC Natural History Unit, UK, directing for a landmark, high-end programme for National Geographic. She has also worked with networks such as Netflix, Animal Planet, Discovery Network and Disney+ on mega productions including David Attenborough’s Life in Colour.

Humble and hugely talented, Kapur embarked on an adventure of a lifetime, when set out on a deeply personal quest to uncover the roots of illegal wildlife hunting festivals in the forests of her home in Bengal. In a defiant act of hope, Ash teamed up with conservationist Suvrajyoti Chatterjee, to ignite change where it matters most — in the hearts of children within these hunting communities. The film celebrates the transformative power of education, following the heart warming journey of five young boys from hunting families in Jhargram, as they learn to recognize the beauty of nature in their backyards, through the lens of a camera.

Now, Catapults to Cameras, which was made on a micro-budget of just $4,000 US, has been nominated at the Jackson Wild Media Awards, USA's biggest Nature Film Awards and one of the two highest honors in the field of nature and wildlife filmmaking. Produced by India’s philanthropic, education platform Roundglass Sustain, this indie production, is nominated in the ‘Impact Campaign’ category and will be in direct competition with Apple TV’s 2018 high budget production The Elephant Queen and The Redford Center’s Watershed, narrated by American actor Robert Redford himself — placing it in the same league as these high-profile, high budget projects.

The Jackson Wild Media Awards, celebrates the very best in nature and conservation filmmaking. Over 500 films entered the competition in 2024, with over 1,100 category entries from 74 different countries around the world. Finalists were selected by more than 200 international judges. This nomination places Bengal-based Catapults to Cameras among the leading works of the past years, highlighting the exceptional storytelling and ground impact it has had.

This recognition distinguishes the film as a catalyst for change, as the awards recognize films that have not only displayed artistic and narrative excellence, but have gone beyond the screen to raise awareness and inspire action on environmental issues. The nomination signifies that the film has transcended mere entertainment to become a catalyst for real-world change, demonstrating the team's dedication to creating films that not only entertain but also inspire action to make a positive impact on the planet. It is something intrinsic to Roundglass Sustain, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to telling stories about India’s natural world to create awareness, make science accessible, and support conservation. By highlighting the connection between people and nature, they aim to ignite a collective sense of responsibility and urgency toward building an environment-friendly world. That's why Catapults to Cameras became for them a perfect project to collaborate on, with Ashwika Kapur and HEAL. HEAL is a Kolkata-based non-profit and public charitable trust dedicated to wildlife conservation and environmental protection since 2017, founded with the mission to combat the exploitation of wildlife, empower local communities to safeguard their environments, and inform policy decisions that balance ecological and human development needs.

Speaking about this latest achievement, Neha Dara, Head of Roundglass Sustain, said: “We are ecstatic that the jury at the Jackson Wild Media Awards 2024 has recognized Catapults to Cameras, a film that started as an experiment in wildlife conservation. This story aligns closely with our mission to partner with communities and regional storytellers to tell stories of India’s natural world and the challenges it faces. Its selection establishes the universality of these themes and is an affirmation that our work and message resonate with a larger global audience.”

Kapur added: “The fact that a small story from a corner of Bengal can reach a global audience alongside such major productions is a testament to the power of storytelling — we are thrilled to have brought this story from our home to an international stage.”

The Jackson Wild Media Awards will be announced on September 5th, 2024 in Washington, D.C. and you can find out more on their website.

Top image courtesy of the filmmaker, used with permission.