During the COVID-19 lockdowns, when live performance paused and communities turned to film as a new language of expression, members of Budhan Theatre participated in the first workshops in Chharanagar, home of the Chhara DNT community in Ahmedabad.

This led to a first series of short films on pandemic life, blending theatre, poetry, and documentary. As participants learned every aspect of production - from story development to editing - they became filmmakers and mentors themselves, creating a second series that captured stories from De-Notified Tribes across western and central India.

The School has since expanded its training to include Adivasi communities through the Adivasi Academy of Voice in Chhota Udepur, and to regions such as Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Andaman Islands. These evolving film ecologies continue to document local realities while building community-led skills in storytelling and media production.