Founded in 2005 under the leadership of our first Managing Trustee, Jai Chandiram, the India Chapter of IAWRT works to build and nurture a professional network of women professionals and academics in the media. Our members – nearly 100 phenomenal women who have built stellar careers in the media – come from across India, making it the largest country chapter in the entire IAWRT network.  

As media women, we are deeply invested in the world – and we bring our perspectives, ideas and inspirations to our work at IAWRT (Chapter India). We organise workshops, conferences, exhibitions and festivals. We make films. We work closely with organisations working on women’s issues, children, livelihoods, sustainability and more, bringing in our specialisation in filmmaking and the media to help them communicate better. We conceptualise filmmaking workshops for others in the non-profit space, helping younger people learn the basics of speaking with the camera. 

Our flagship event, the IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF), is celebrated annually around International Women’s Day. Over the years, the AWFF has grown both in stature and popularity – even adapting to an online format during the COVID-19 pandemic. This 3 to 4 day festival in Delhi gathers women filmmakers of Asian origin from across the globe, offering a rich program that includes screenings, seminars, masterclasses, and exhibitions.

Beyond the main festival, our travelling festivals have earned international acclaim and helped establish women’s festivals in Herat (Afghanistan) and Kathmandu (Nepal). We continue to expand our collaborative efforts with women film and media practitioners in other regional countries.

As the definition of ‘media’ expands, IAWRT Chapter India remains committed to evolving with the landscape by embracing practitioners of all ages, and from emerging media platforms. We continue to foster inclusivity and equip our members to tackle contemporary challenges, all while advancing a more equitable media environment where women are increasingly visible.

The current board (2024-26) comprises:

Managing Trustee: Aparna Sanyal

General Secretary: Dr Mausumi Bhattacharyya

Treasurer: Imrana Khan

Members: Bina Paul, Deepika Sharma, Nina Sabnani, Subasri Krishnan, Surabhi Sharma, Dr Yuki Azad Tomar

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