Rucha Chitnis

I am a narrative nerd, a visual storyteller, and a documentarian of alternative movements for food sovereignty, Indigenous self-determination, disability and gender justice. Born and raised in India, I am energized by counter narratives that debunk the mythologies of dominant systems and center stories of alternative movements for justice, wellbeing and collective liberation.

I am a fellow of the International Women’s Media Foundation. I have worked as an independent reporter, photojournalist, filmmaker, and a communications strategist for progressive philanthropy groups and networks, like the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples and the Agroecology Fund. My first documentary film, In the Land of My Ancestors, won an online prize at the International Independent Filmmakers Award and was broadcast on KQED/PBS. I love birding, cooking, swimming in rivers and lakes, and deep immersions in nature.

Book recommendation: Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry