**Executive Summary**
On June 17, 2026, the Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) hosted an Open Forum titled “Documentary as a Means of Archiving Men, Moments and Memories” during the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). The session explored the role of documentaries in preserving history, culture, and collective memory for future generations. Journalists and media creators are invited to contact the MIFF media desk for interview opportunities with participating filmmakers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **The Archival Value of Documentaries**
* Documentaries serve as critical archives of social, cultural, and historical experiences, preserving history beyond written records.
* Films that tell stories of specific people and places evolve into valuable archival records over time.
* The medium captures lived experiences, traditions, and memories that might otherwise be lost.
* **The Filmmaking and Research Process**
* Rigorous research, fact-checking, and factual accuracy are essential when documenting historical subjects.
* The documentary journey is often characterized by "happy accidents," where research leads to unexpected discoveries that reshape the narrative.
* A strong narrative structure and careful pacing are required to maintain audience engagement.
* Filmmakers should seek fresh perspectives and be willing to adapt their stories based on new findings.
* **Preservation through Different Media**
* Radio documentaries are vital for preserving cultural heritage, including folk music, literature, and the journeys of artists.
* Institutions such as the National Film Archive of India provide essential value for filmmakers conducting archival research.
**Impact Analysis**
**Documentary Filmmakers**
**Impact:** They are recognized as archivists of human experience whose work provides a legacy for future generations.
**Action Required:** They must prioritize deep research, factual verification, and engaging storytelling while remaining flexible to narrative changes during the production process.
**Journalists, Bloggers, and Vloggers**
**Impact:** Media creators have been granted direct access to festival filmmakers for interviews and interactions.
**Action Required:** Interested parties should contact `miff.mediadesk@pib.gov.in` with the subject line "Take One with PIB" to facilitate connections.
**Cultural and Archival Institutions**
**Impact:** Organizations like the IDPA and the National Film Archive of India are highlighted as central to the preservation of collective memory.
**Action Required:** These entities must continue to support archival practices and provide platforms for discussing the intersection of film and history.
Key Entities Referenced
Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF): An international event focused on documentary, short, and animation films, providing a platform for discussing the preservation of history and collective memory.
Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA): The organization that facilitated the Open Forum on the use of documentaries as archival tools for social and cultural experiences.
National Film Archive of India: A key institution highlighted for its essential role in archival research and the factual documentation of historical subjects.
Vividh Bharati: A radio service recognized for its efforts in documenting artistic journeys and conserving Indian folk music and cultural traditions.
The Journey of a
documentary is Full of ‘Happy
Accidents’. Experts at 19th
MIFF discuss the Art of
preserving memories through
film
Documentaries preserve history, culture and
human experiences for future generations
Mumbai, 17 June 2026
The Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) organised an Open Forum on the theme,
“Documentary as a Means of Archiving Men, Moments and Memories” was held during the 19th
Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). The session brought together filmmakers Suresh Sharma,
Sanjit Narwekar, Roopa Barua and Amrish Roy Choudhury, along with radio presenter Yunus Khan to
discuss the role of documentaries in preserving history, culture and collective memory.
The panelists reflected on the documentary-making process and emphasised that documentaries serve
not only as records of events and individuals but also as important archives of social, cultural and
historical experiences.Suresh Sharma highlighted the importance of research, fact-checking and a strong narrative structure
in documentary filmmaking. He noted that documentaries become memorable when they capture the
struggles and sensitivities of their subjects and observed that new discoveries during research often
reshape a film's narrative.
Sanjit Narwekar described documentaries as a series of "happy accidents", where the search for one
story often leads to unexpected discoveries. He emphasised the need to find fresh perspectives and
adapt stories based on new findings.Roopa Barua shared that films made to tell stories of people and places often become valuable
archival records over time. Referring to her films Riders of the Mist and Daughters of the Polo God,
she stressed the importance of storytelling and maintaining audience engagement through careful
pacing.
Yunus Khan spoke about the role of radio documentaries in preserving cultural heritage. He
highlighted Vividh Bharati's efforts in documenting the journeys of artists and conserving folk music,
literature and other cultural traditions from across India.
Amrish Roy Choudhury underscored the importance of archival research in documentary filmmaking
and highlighted the value of institutions such as the National Film Archive of India. He also stressed
the need for factual accuracy and careful verification while documenting historical subjects.
What begins as a search for a story often evolves into an important archive of culture, memory and
social change noted the panelists. By capturing memories, traditions and lived experiences,
documentary films help ensure that history is preserved beyond written records alone. The session
concluded with a lively interaction with the audience, focusing on documentary research, archival
practices and the importance of preserving memories through film.
* * *
PIB Team MIFF | Nikita Joshi/Edgar Coelho/Darshana Rane
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