Young filmmakers are reshaping documentary cinema through personal storytelling, technological innovation and a strong engagement with social realities, speakers said at a panel discussion titled ‘Are Young Filmmakers Redefining Documentaries?’ during the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF).

The session brought together filmmaker Prabal Khaund, writer-filmmaker Preety Sharma, emerging filmmaker Samapti Das and filmmaker-academician Prof. Himansu Sekhar Khatua and was moderated by Pankaj Saxena, Artistic Director, Film Festivals, NFDC, stated a gist of the session put out yesterday by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

Prof. Khatua said young filmmakers today have unprecedented access to filmmaking tools and digital platforms, enabling them to create and reach audiences without relying solely on film festivals. He said artificial intelligence and emerging technologies would bring greater quality and versatility to documentary storytelling, while expressing confidence in the younger generation’s commitment to addressing social concerns.

Highlighting opportunities in the medium, filmmaker Das said many young people remain unaware of the possibilities offered by documentary filmmaking.

She described documentaries as a medium capable of taking filmmakers “to remarkable heights”, while also stressing the demanding nature of documentary production and urging producers to place greater trust in emerging talent.

Writer and independent filmmaker Sharma underlined the dedication required to make documentaries, often amid limited resources, funding constraints and manpower shortages. She said one of the biggest challenges facing documentary filmmakers was ensuring their work reached audiences and advocated the creation of more formal exhibition and distribution avenues beyond online platforms.

Drawing on his experience documenting indigenous communities in Northeast India, National Award-winning filmmaker Khaund spoke about the patience, cultural sensitivity and perseverance needed for documentary filmmaking.

He said technological advances should be embraced to make the work of documentary filmmakers easier and more impactful.

Moderator Saxena noted a significant shift in audience perceptions of documentaries, saying young filmmakers were increasingly telling stories rooted in personal experiences, human struggles and social change. Their passion and authenticity, he said, were helping transform the medium and broaden its appeal.

The discussion also examined emerging formats such as hybrid documentaries and docu-fiction.

Participants agreed that contemporary documentary filmmakers are moving beyond conventional reportage to focus on human emotions, personal journeys and lived experiences, a trend they said is helping documentaries connect with wider audiences while reinforcing confidence in the future of the genre.