KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 5
The Alternativa Film Awards & festival, by inDrive-a global mobility and urban service platform-concluded successfully on November 29, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This marked the second edition of the awards, following its debut in Kazakhstan in 2023.
Building on the inaugural event, which was limited to an awards ceremony, this year's festival spanned a full week featuring screenings of nominated films, industry-focused events, and networking opportunities. The festival ran from November 22 to 28, showcasing nominated films alongside sessions designed to inspire filmmakers. The grand finale, the awards ceremony on November 29, highlighted films that combined artistic excellence with the power to drive societal change.
This year introduced "Industry Days," a series of sessions offering insights into impactful filmmaking and its influence. Sessions explored key topics such as fundraising, production, and distribution. Networking events brought filmmakers and industry professionals together, fostering connections that could shape future projects.
During the award ceremony, Arsen Tomski, the CEO and founder of inDrive, addressed the audience via video and expressed great honor to have the awards and festival in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this year.
Award Winners
With a total prize fund of USD 100,000, the awards recognized exceptional films across six categories:
Spotlight Award: Bird of a Different Feather by Manohara K (India), for addressing overlooked social issues.
Future Voice Award: Cu Li Never Cries by Pham Ngoc Lan (Vietnam), celebrating emerging filmmakers.
Alter Award: Grand Me by Atiye Zare Arandi (Iran), recognizing films tackling critical themes like human rights and migration.
Nativa Award: The Adamant Girl by Vinothraj PS (India), exploring cultural and national identity.
Shorts Awards: Washhh by Mickey Lai (Malaysia) and A Cleaning Service by Nguyen Duy Anh (Vietnam), for impactful short films.
Resonance Award: How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies by Pat Boonitipat (Thailand), for its audience appeal.
Nepali Representation
This year, Nepali filmmaker and journalist Subina Shrestha's 'Devi' was nominated for the awards. The film tells the poignant story of Devi, a rebel warrior and survivor of sexual violence during Nepal's civil war. Even though it did not win an award, its inclusion signified a growing recognition of diverse narratives in global cinema. It highlighted the ongoing struggle for justice in a society still grappling with the effects of its tumultuous past.
This follows last year's success of 'No Winter Holidays' by Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey, which won the Nativa Award.The film told the touching story of two women navigating their shared history and their efforts to survive in a desolate village.
This year, Rajan Kathet served on the selection committee, further emphasizing Nepal's contribution to the festival. He is also a recipient of the DMZ Docs Industry Fund, the HAF/WIP Documentary, and the HAF Goes to Cannes Award.
The Alternativa Film Project and InDrive's Global Vision
The Alternativa Film project is a global, nomadic, non-profit film initiative launched by inDrive. This company, known for its inDrive app-downloaded over 200 million times and ranked as the second most downloaded mobility app in 2022 and 2023-has been actively engaging in various social initiatives to improve lives worldwide.
Beyond ride-hailing, inDrive offers a growing array of urban services, including intercity transportation, freight delivery, task assistance, and courier services. Operating in 749 cities across 46 countries, the company is committed to challenging social injustices and aims to positively impact one billion lives by 2030, the company said.
To advance its mission, inDrive has introduced seven impactful projects across 21 countries. These include the Aurora Tech Award, which celebrates women founders of IT startups making significant developmental contributions, and the Underdog Tech Award, an international prize for outstanding tech startup founders outside major hubs or startup ecosystems. Other initiatives include Alternative Film projects, as well as programs like Your Pace and Super Novas.
During a special media gathering in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Egor Fedorov, Chief of Staff at inDrive, shared the company's vision, stating, "Our ambitious goal is to positively impact the lives of 1 billion people-not only through our social initiatives but also through our daily business operations."
He elaborated, "As a business leader, I often see numbers-growing figures, new countries added each year. But when you look beyond the statistics and witness the lives of the tens of millions of people using our app daily to support their families, it's profoundly humbling. Hearing real stories about how inDrive has changed lives reinforces our purpose. We recognize the importance of our work. This is the foundation of our positive impact on the world."
Fedorov also highlighted the company's commitment to social causes, saying, "We have the privilege of supporting various initiatives, which is why our company launched InVision."
This corporate social responsibility (CSR) program is aimed at ensuring that all of its initiatives are purposeful, impactful and aligned with sustainable development goals, the company said.
Explaining the significance of the Alternativa Film project, he added, "Why films? Because films have the power to touch hearts, amplify voices, and shine a spotlight on critical issues. They provide a platform for stories that matter deeply to communities, addressing subjects that might otherwise remain unheard."
"We have seen an incredible level of interest in Jogja for this event," said Liza Surganova, Head of the Alternativa Film Project. "This is the first time we are hosting the festival, and we had a turnout of over 2,000 people attending our screenings and discussions. For some sessions, we even had fully booked screenings. This is significant because we are not showcasing Hollywood blockbusters; instead, we are presenting films that sometimes touch on very sensitive topics."
During the award ceremony, it was announced that the next edition will take place in Latin America in 2026.
inDrive began operating informally in Nepal in April 2022. However, following the government's amendment to the Industrial Business Act, 2076, which officially recognized ride-sharing as a service industry, inDrive registered as an official business and launched formal operations in May. Recently, the company introduced a premium ride service in Nepal called inDrive Comfort, providing passengers with upgraded travel options.
Pavit Nanda Anand, Asia Pacific Communications Lead at inDrive, highlighted the platform's unique approach, stating, "We're giving both the driver and passenger the freedom to choose their own adventure."
