Shorts Cinemaghar’s Lumen Film Lab and The Paperclip have launched LUMEN, a first-of-its-kind Research-to-Film Lab in India that brings research and cinematic storytelling together. Open to filmmakers, artists, journalists and researchers, the initiative offers mentorship, a structured script-development process and a production grant of up to ₹5 lakh.
Shorts Cinemaghar's, a campus-rooted short film ecosystem, has joined forces with The Paperclip, a homegrown digital media organisation , to launch LUMEN — a first-of-its-kind Research-to-Film Lab in India. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between rigorous research and cinematic craft, offering storytellers a structured, paid pathway to develop short films rooted in real inquiry.
LUMEN is built on the idea that great stories emerge at the intersection of research, innovation, and filmmaking. Applicants will be given a curated range of subjects to choose from, each designed to push participants beyond surface-level narratives and into deeper, research-backed storytelling. Rather than starting from scratch, filmmakers will develop their short films around a topic they select from this list, grounding their creative process in structured investigation before moving into scriptwriting and production.
This grant is for anyone who is a little bit curious and wants to create something meaningful: filmmakers, artists, journalists, and researchers are all invited to apply, reflecting the program's belief that compelling short films can come from any discipline, removing the notion that filmmaking is meant for everyone not just people from traditional film backgrounds. Interested applicants have until 21st October to register.
Once selected, applicants will have 45 days from their date of application to develop a final draft of their script — a tight but purposeful window meant to keep the creative process focused and momentum-driven. The winning script will be developed into a fully produced short film, backed by a grant of up to ₹5 lakhs. Alongside the funding, selected participants will receive dedicated mentorship throughout the process, offering guidance from professionals as they navigate everything from script refinement to production decisions.
The program also offers winners 25% of the YouTube revenue generated by the finished film, giving storytellers a continued stake in their work's performance and reach.
Developing a film can be extremely tiresome and sometimes due to lack of resources and a sense of structure so many budding filmmakers end up halting producing their films even before they’re made. With LUMEN, research became the very foundation of storytelling — an approach that could reshape how short films are conceived in India.
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