Ranchi: Hard-hitting environmental films documenting climate change, indigenous traditions and the human cost of unchecked development left a strong impression on audiences in Ranchi’s Audrey House, as the CMS Vatavaran Travelling Film Festival turned cinema into a mirror for society. The screenings drew students and young viewers who engaged with stories centred on sustainability, displacement, biodiversity loss and community resilience.Inaugurating the festival, governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar said the theme, “Roots & Renewal: Indigenous Knowledge, Youth Voices, Planetary Stewardship,” was deeply relevant in the present context. “By remaining connected to our roots, we can safeguard the planet’s future. Environmental protection must become a mass movement,” he said. Emphasising the role of visual storytelling, he added, “Films are not just entertainment; they are powerful instruments that can shape thought and direction.”Adding another dimension to the festival was an exhibition by 19 woman artists on gender and climate change.
