AFRISOS GRANT
CHAMELEON CORRIDORS
By JIGAR GANATRA
ABOUT THE FILM
Chameleon Corridors tells the story of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains, a biodiversity hotspot home to endemic chameleon species found nowhere else.
These ancient forests have been shrinking for over a century, leading to unpredictable rainfall and failing crops for local communities.
Narrated by a wise old chameleon, the film follows Anna, a young girl who challenges her mother’s resignation after their crops fail.
’If we were able to destroy nature, why can’t we try to repair it?’ she asks.
This simple question sparks a community reforestation movement that now includes over 300 farmers in the Nguru mountains.
The film weaves together interviews with elders, farmers, and spiritual leaders, exploring their relationship with chameleons, creatures often feared in Tanzania.
Through the chameleon’s narration, the audience is reminded about the intrinsic interdependence of people and nature in one of Earth’s most ecologically significant regions.
AFRIOS GRANT WINNER
JIGAR GANATRA
Jigar Ganatra is an award-winning Tanzanian filmmaker recognized for his ability to authentically connect with his subjects, capturing nuanced narratives alongside stunning visuals. Since 2016, he has made films in 24 countries in his capacity as a Director, DoP, and Producer, creating films in diverse locations, from the East African savannah to the Amazon Rainforest and the Himalayan peaks. His focus on non-extractive filmmaking with Indigenous communities highlights humanity’s bond with nature while preserving cultural and ecological diversity. As the founder of the African School of Storytelling (AFRISOS), Jigar mentors emerging African filmmakers, empowering them to share their unique stories with the world.
SIMONA NICKMAN IMPACT PRODUCER
Simona has been igniting positive change through meaningful experiences, events and films for over a decade, with some 150 projects under her belt. She is a systems thinker, an ecosystem builder and a polyglot speaking 8 languages - leveraging this diverse lens to connect unusual dots for big impact. Alongside the Hadzabe Tribe of Tanzania, she leads the Children of Honey Impact Campaign, which has won The FIFDH Impact Award 2025 and RRI’s Impact Award by Documentary Africa. For the Chameleon Corridors Impact Campaign, Simona designed and produced a Kili Kids for Climate Festival in Northern Tanzania for 1,500 secondary students, deepening our film’s message through four immersive experiences weaving in mindfulness, discovery of one’s purpose, and reconnection to nature and chameleons.
THE MISSION
REFORESTATION
Chameleon Corridors champions the urgent need for reforestation in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains - one of the most biodiverse and ecologically critical regions on Earth. As forest loss disrupts wildlife, rainfall, and threatens local livelihoods, this film highlights how replanting trees is not just about restoring nature - it’s about restoring balance between people and the ecosystems they depend on. By foregrounding a community-led movement now uniting hundreds of farmers, the film advocates for a future in which reforestation is rooted in local knowledge, cultural connection, and ecological necessity.
IMPACT
Chameleon Corridors is sparking a new generation of environmental stewards by bringing the story of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains directly to the children who live closest to them.
One of the film’s innovative outreach efforts involves immersive rainforest soundscapes – created from the very environments featured in the film. These soundscapes, when played during screenings and workshops, allow children to experience the forest with their ears, connecting emotionally with the wildlife that often remains hidden. The initiative helps transform distant or feared animals, like chameleons, into familiar symbols of resilience and beauty.
By fostering curiosity and wonder, the project helps children see the rainforest not just as a backdrop to their lives, but as a living system they are part of – and can protect. After screenings, children are invited to share their reactions and ideas—many express curiosity, awe, and a growing sense of connection to the chameleons and the forest they call home.
The belief is simple but powerful: if children understand the forest, they’ll be moved to care for it. And through film, sound, and community-led reforestation, Chameleon Corridors is helping make that connection real.