The landscape of independent South Asian cinema has received a significant boost with the announcement that Stenzin Tankyong’s debut feature film, Kakthet (Idiot), has won the inaugural INR40 lakh ($42,000) feature film co-production fund. Established collaboratively by digital media platform Humans of Cinema and production banner Safarnaama Pictures, the fund selected the Ladakhi-language project out of nearly 400 entries following a rigorous screening, evaluation, and deliberative process.
Set against the stark, remote, and high-altitude backdrop of Ladakh, Kakthet addresses the precarious future of a government school and its surrounding community. The plot centers on a unique and high-stakes premise: the survival of the educational institution hinges entirely on a single, deeply reluctant 10th-grade student who has never managed to pass a standardized exam. Faced with this existential dilemma, the school’s teachers embark on a desperate and absurd mission to save the school by saving a student who is actively determined not to be saved.
The victory at the inaugural Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures initiative marks a major milestone for Tankyong, whose distinct cinematic voice has spent nearly a decade bridging the gap between Ladakh’s indigenous cultures and international film audiences.
A Rising Voice from the High Himalayas
Stenzin Tankyong is no stranger to the global film festival circuit. Over the past eight years, he has established himself as a prominent chronicler of Ladakhi landscapes, socio-cultural realities, and human resilience. His critically acclaimed short films, including Sekool (2019) and Last Days of Summer (2023), have traveled to prestigious international platforms, such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and the Dharamshala International Film Festival.
With Kakthet, Tankyong transitions from short-form storytelling to his first feature-length narrative. The project benefits from a powerhouse production team boasting deep industry experience. The film is produced by Ritu Sarin and Rajesh Thanickan, alongside French co-producers La Belle Affaire Productions. Sarin, a veteran filmmaker and producer with a career spanning over three decades, is the co-founder of White Crane Films and the Dharamshala International Film Festival. Thanickan brings significant international prestige to the table, having worked on notable projects including Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese and premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival; Santosh, which premiered at Cannes in 2024; and Our Share of Sand, which premiered at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival’s International Critics’ Week, taking home the Audience Award.
Chronology of Success and International Recognition
Long before securing the INR40 lakh co-production fund, Kakthet had already captured the attention of international film programmers, industry professionals, and funding bodies. The project’s trajectory highlights a carefully planned and highly validated development phase:
- 2025: Kakthet wins the Co-Production Features Grant at the prestigious WAVES Film Bazaar, signaling strong early endorsement from industry experts.
- July 2026: The production team completes an intensive three-week reconnaissance mission across the Changthang region and Leh. This phase involves critical location scouting, production planning, and capturing visual and sonic material to produce a high-impact proof-of-concept teaser.
- Late 2026: The project is selected as one of only 30 global entries for the Asian Project Market, held in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival, further cementing its international viability.
- Current Status: The screenplay is officially in its fourth draft. Principal cast members, crucial crew positions, and primary shooting locations are now fully locked in. The production team is actively focused on securing supplementary financing and solidifying co-production alliances across Asia, Australia, and Europe.
An Industry-Backed Initiative for Regional Cinema
The Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures Co-Production Fund was conceptualized to bridge a gaping systemic void in the South Asian film financing ecosystem: the scarcity of institutional support for regional, non-mainstream narratives. The fund was established by Harshit Bansal, founder of Humans of Cinema, and Nazim Momin, a U.S.-based engineer and producer who founded Safarnaama Pictures.
To ensure the highest standard of project evaluation and mentorship, the initiative enlisted heavyweights of contemporary Indian cinema. Acclaimed filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Shaunak Sen are formally attached as mentors, with Sen also stepping into the role of executive producer for Kakthet. The rigorous jury panel featured award-winning actor Imran Khan, filmmaker Arati Kadav, All That Breathes producer Aman Mann, and prominent film festival director Aseem Chhabra.
Reflecting on the challenges and ultimate rewards of managing the inaugural fund, Harshit Bansal noted the overwhelming response from filmmakers nationwide.
"The past few months working on this fund have been both unbelievably challenging and incredibly rewarding," Bansal said. "We were pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of brilliant projects we received from across the country, and we’re even more convinced how desperately initiatives like these are needed in South Asia right now. It was definitely a testing process, but we couldn’t be happier with the result. Stenzin is an exciting new filmmaker with a distinct voice, and we’re excited to be an ally in his journey of making his debut feature."
Mentors and Jury Praise the Vision of Kakthet
The selection of Kakthet was met with widespread enthusiasm from the industry veterans guiding the initiative. Vishal Bhardwaj emphasized the vital cultural importance of platforming non-mainstream narratives that reflect the diverse fabric of the subcontinent.
"Stories like Kakthet remind us why it is important to create opportunities for voices that emerge from outside the mainstream," Bhardwaj stated. "I’m glad to be associated with this initiative and look forward to seeing Stenzin Tankyong bring his vision to life."
Shaunak Sen, whose documentary achievements have brought global acclaim to Indian independent cinema, praised the unique tonal balance and sensitive direction evident in Tankyong’s screenplay.
"The Kakthet script mobilizes lightness, absurdity, and humor to tell the story of a slow lamentation underwriting several lives in Ladakh," Sen observed. "The story of Singay and the motley group of students and teachers always stays curious and sensitive, while never lapsing into judgment. I look forward to supporting the team in realizing this project."
Jury member Arati Kadav expressed deep admiration for the tenacity displayed by applicants throughout the selection process.
"I want to congratulate the Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama team who have worked tirelessly to create this fund," Kadav said. "I was amazed at the passion, rigor, and love they’ve put in selecting the winner. I want to congratulate the winning film and, above all, I want to applaud all the filmmakers who applied. So many stories represented fearlessness and fierceness, and I was really inspired by them."
Director Stenzin Tankyong on the Significance of Local Support
For Stenzin Tankyong, winning the inaugural fund is more than just a financial victory; it is a validation of the Ladakhi language, culture, and localized lived experiences on a national stage.
"I’m delighted that Kakthet has been selected for the inaugural HoC x Safarnaama Pictures Co-Production Fund," Tankyong remarked. "For independent filmmakers in India, finding support for stories rooted in our own regions, languages, and lived experiences can be challenging. The fact that this support comes from within our own country makes this recognition especially meaningful for us."
He added that local institutional backing serves as a vital lifeline for regional art forms that might otherwise struggle to find commercial distribution or visibility in a crowded marketplace.
"For a film in Ladakhi, grounded in the culture and realities of Ladakh, this support offers real encouragement to tell a story that might otherwise struggle to reach the screen and a wider audience," Tankyong said. "Initiatives like this create valuable opportunities for newer voices in independent cinema, bringing the diverse cultures and experiences of our country to wider audiences. I’m glad Kakthet (Idiot) is part of this first edition, and I thank HoC, Safarnaama Pictures, the jury, and mentors for helping us take the film forward."
Broader Implications for South Asian Independent Cinema
The launch of the Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures Co-Production Fund—and its successful debut cycle culminating in the selection of Kakthet—points to a structural evolution in how independent films are incubated in South Asia. Historically, regional and indigenous language films produced outside major commercial hubs like Mumbai, Chennai, or Hyderabad have relied heavily on chaotic crowdfunding campaigns, unpredictable state grants, or slow-moving international co-production markets.
By creating private-sector, peer-supported funding models infused with mentorship from established artists, platforms like Humans of Cinema are helping democratize access to capital. As Kakthet moves from its fourth draft to principal photography, backed by an impressive roster of international producers and domestic mentors, it stands as a case study for the viability of regional storytelling. If successful, Tankyong’s feature could pave the way for a more decentralized cinematic landscape in India, proving that hyper-local narratives from high-altitude peripheries can resonate universally while retaining absolute cultural authenticity.
