Milind Anand - Suru Outdoor Fest

Suru Outdoor Fest - Kargil, India

Suru Fest is an outdoor festival held in Suru Village in Kargil, Ladakh, within the Indian Himalayas. Initially launched as a bouldering festival in 2016, it has since evolved into a multi-disciplinary outdoor event featuring sports like kayaking, traditional climbing, mountain biking, and highlining, making it the world's highest outdoor adventure festival. This prestigious event was recognized with the UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award in 2019.

My involvement with Suru Fest has grown over the years. In 2019, I started as a drone operator for the festival's outdoor film. In 2021, I advanced to the role of cinematographer for their annual film, and in 2022, I directed a series of short ad documentaries, each spotlighting different sports. In addition to filmmaking, I've also been photographing the festival annually. These films and photos were self-funded on a shoestring budget and made using personal equipment alongside a fellow creative.

Adventure sports like bouldering and highlining are still a small niche in India, money is hard to come by. But the future of people in the space looks bright considering the growing involvement of more outsiders. The work aims to garner the attention of more adventurers who would want to experience something similar.