I am Zanskar

Synopsis

A director grew up in one of the most remote places on Earth. On a ten-year personal journey, he looks for his fading memories. He also works to keep his native culture alive. Climate change threatens his homeland's future. He travels to remote corners of Zanskar, in the Ladakh region of northern India. These trips bring him back to his past and to a changing landscape.

The director filmed this documentary over ten years. It records his water conservation projects in settlements where water scarcity forces people to leave their homes. Through this work, we see a land, a way of life, and a cultural memory struggling to survive against a changing climate.

Director Biography

Lobzang Wangtak, Akshat Jain

Lobzang Wangtak

Glacier and water conservationist, filmmaker, and co-founder of the Navikarana Trust, which develops water solutions for high-altitude villages facing severe scarcity. Since 2014, he has led climate adaptation work in the Himalayas through Artificial Glaciers and Ice Stupas, combining traditional knowledge with modern science. In 2021, he launched the Zanskar Conservancy Movement to raise environmental awareness and promote sustainable practices among youth and local communities in Ladakh. As a filmmaker, Lobzang documents the untold stories of his homeland amid ecological and social change, preserving local knowledge, amplifying community voices, and drawing global attention to the Himalayas.

Akshat Jain

Filmmaker, editor, and collaborator based in India, working primarily in documentary and non-fiction cinema. His practice focuses on intimate, character-driven stories exploring identity, environment, culture and communities undergoing social and ecological change. He is the filmmaker and editor of I Am Zanskar and has collaborated closely with Lobzang Wangtak to develop the film and bring its story to audiences beyond Zanskar. His approach combines observational filmmaking with a strong emphasis on character, place, and lived experience.

Credits

Camera / Kamera

Lobzang Wangtak, Rigzin Namgyal, Mutup Kalyan, Stanzin Khakyab, Akshat Jain, Chinmoy Sonowal, Prateek Verma, Anchit Thukral, Stanzin Kunkhen, Walid Tak, Rigzen Angchok

Editing / Kurgu

Akshat Jain, Arif Wazir

Sound / Ses

Sudarshan Sawant

Production / Yapım

Shilpi Rawat (Zen Mountain Studio), Danny Giovale (Kahtoola Inc)