Kalakars

Empowering underrepresented artists in American film and television. Kalakars means 'artists,' in several South Asian languages. That's who we are. Kalakars is a non-profit initiative to nurture South Asian and South Asian American talent and stories, both in front of, and behind the camera. The organization also works to serve as a resource for the American film and television industries to increase opportunities for underrepresented artists. We believe that when there's diversity among the decision-makers and storytellers, it inevitably filters into all other aspects of the process as well. KALAKARS was started in June 2014 by a small group of writers, filmmakers, and actors who recognized the need for a collaborative workshop environment to nurture emerging stories by and about South Asians in the U.S. Since then, KALAKARS has run workshops every month and has steadily grown to a loyal group of active participants who regularly workshop their material, and supporting members who offer expertise and resources to help filmmakers reach the next steps wherever they are in the process. Within a short time, this highly collaborative process has established a supportive group that is striving to raise the standards of our storytelling. We believe our relatively rapid growth stems from a real need that existed within the community. There is great enthusiasm among the members, and a determination to help each other succeed.