“Producing is hell, writing is frustrating, acting is really satisfying, directing is heaven”- Salma Hayek
I can say the direction is the heart of the movie without which a movie cannot be made. If a movie is successful, then the director becomes the talk of the town next to the actors. But If a movie flops, they won’t say the actors have not acted properly or it is a bad story. Instead, they will ask ‘Who directed this movie? and they become the cause for failure. So directing a movie is not a simple job but a daunting task as it involves a lot of responsibilities and the major ones are below.
– Story
– Screenplay
– Casting
– Deciding the budget
– Shooting locations
– Music
– Dialogues
– Cinematography
The director does not have to do all the jobs above but they have to guide/monitor all aspects of the movie. Especially if it is the first movie for the director, then they have to put extra effort. Also, the director should have a good rapport with the actors and technicians from the beginning of the movie till it goes to the theatres. Nowadays the Indian youth are also interested in movie direction equally when compared to acting and many institutes in India provide courses in film direction.
Tip: There are many free online courses available from reputed Universities and Colleges. Check them out!
In this article…
1. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
FTII is one of the top 5 preferred institutes in India for learning movie direction. It was started in 1960 and it has become an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. The popular alumni of this institute include Subhash Ghai, Raj Kumar Hirani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, etc.
Courses:
– Three Year Post Graduate Diploma in Direction
Admission:
The candidate should be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university.12 seats are available for this course and the selection process involves an entrance examination.
Fees & Course Admission Details Here
2. Satyajit Ray Films and Television Institute, Kolkata
SRFTI was established in 1995 as an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India.It is also a member of CILECT, the international Association of Film and Television Schools.
Courses:
– 3-year (full time), Postgraduate Programme in Cinema (Specialisation offered: Direction & Screenplay Writing)
Admission:
The candidate should be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university.12 seats per specialization are available for this course and the selection process involves an entrance examination,4-day orientation course, and a final interview. Fees & Course Admission Details Here.
3. The ICE Institute
ICE is an initiative by Ekta Kapoor focused on creating new talent in the field of Media & Entertainment.
Backed by some of the best in the industry, ICE kick-started the filming and performing arts courses and programs back in 2010. Since then, the institute has become one of the leading ones in India to learn movie direction.
Admission details can be obtained here.
Website – https://www.theiceinstitute.com
4. Center for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), Delhi
CRAFT was started in the year 2006 by a nonprofit organization to improve the discipline in various fields of the film industry.It is registered as a public charitable trust.
Courses:
– 1 year course in Film direction(Full time / part time / distance learning)
Admission:
The candidate should have a diploma after 12th or a PG diploma after graduation. 10 seats for students who finished 12th and 10 for graduate students are available and the selection process involves a personal interview. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
5. L V Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai
LV Prasad Film and TV academy was a part of the Prasad Group which was started by the renowned movie producer & director L.V.Prasad and it is currently headed by his son Ramesh Prasad. The students are provided the opportunity to direct many short films, advertisements, etc as a part of the curriculum.
Courses:
Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Direction
Admission:
The candidate should be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
6. Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
WWI is owned by the popular Bollywood director Subash Ghai and was started in the year 2006. The school has got links with many international film schools which helps in getting opportunities across the globe.It has excellent infrastructure with all the latest equipment used in the film industry.
Courses:
– 3 Year Bachelors Filmmaking Program
– 2-Year Diploma in Filmmaking
Admission:
The candidate should have a Higher Secondary School or equivalent certificate. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
7. National Institute of Design, Ahemdabad
NIDA is an autonomous institution offering various courses in arts and design. Located in Ahmedabad it has several prestigious accolades to itself and impressive alumni to be proud of.
Courses:
– Bachelor of Design: Animation and Film Design (4-Years)
-Bachelor of Design: Film and Video Communication (4-Years)
– Admissions Start Date: Second Week of October
Website: http://www.nid.edu/
8. Digital Academy The Film School, Mumbai
DA Film School is one of the reputed film schools in Mumbai and it has collaborated with Mumbai University and the University of Westminster to provide graduate and PG courses in various fields.
Courses:
-PG Diploma course in Film and TV Direction (2 years)
Admission:
The candidate should be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university and the selection process involves an entrance examination and a personal interview. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
9. Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida
AAFT was started in 1993 and is the first acting institute in south Asia to get ISO 9001:2000 certification. It has alumni not only from India but across the globe. It offers diplomas and master’s degrees in various categories.
Courses:
– 2 year MSc Cinema + PGD in Cinema ( Specialization in Direction )
– 3 year B.Sc. Cinema + Diploma in Cinema (Specialization in Direction)
Admission:
For a B.Sc degree, the candidate should have an HSC or equivalent certificate and for an M.Sc degree, the candidate should be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university. The selection process involves an aptitude test and a personal interview. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
10. Zee Institute of Media Arts(ZIMA), Mumbai
ZIMA is owned by Zee network, one of India’s leading media companies, and is one the leading acting school in Mumbai. The opportunities for those studying in this school are more as the Zee network itself has many television channels and produces movies also.
Courses:
– Diploma / Bachelors / Masters in Film Making
– Hands on Film Making
– Weekend short term course in Direction
Admission:
The candidate should have a Higher Secondary School or equivalent certificate and the selection process involves a personal interview. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
11. Matrikas Film School, Delhi
Matrikas is a creative film institute for upcoming and new filmmakers. The lectures are given more as workshops instead of classroom sessions to help the students get hands-on practical aspects of filmmaking.
Courses:
– Diploma in Film making (1 year)
Admission:
The candidate should have a Higher Secondary School or equivalent certificate and the selection process involves a personal interview. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
12. Adyar Film Institute, Chennai
The Adyar Film Institute, officially known as M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, is one of the oldest known film institutes in India. It is run by Tamil Nadu State Government under the Department of Information and Public Relations. They offer 3-year diploma courses in Screenplay & Direction, Cinematography, Sound Recording, and Sound Engineering, Film Editing, and Film Processing all accredited by AICTE. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
13. Mumbai Film Academy, Mumbai
Mumbai Film Academy is a leading film school in India offering courses such as Cinematography & Lighting, Film & Video Editing, Film Making & Direction, Screenplay Writing, and Classical Singing. Admissions can be applied online via this form. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
Bonus Mentions
14. National Institute of Film and fine Arts, Kolkata
They have diploma and certificate courses in Film Direction, Acting, Camera, Screen Writing, etc. There is an admission procedure that involves writing tests and clearing the exams before admission. Check out the website for more details. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
Address: 35A Townshend Road, Bhawanipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700025, India
Phone:+91 33 2455 6879
15. Access Atlantech Edutainment, Chennai
This institute is another reputed film school in Chennai (another one is the Adyar Film Institute mentioned above) that offers diploma, degree, and post-graduate programs in movie direction, acting, etc in partnership with reputed universities such as Dibrugarh University, Hindustan University, and the University of Bolton. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
Courses offered
– Advanced Diploma in Show Production (24 months)
– B.Sc. in Visual communication (Digital Film Making or Audio Engineering or Animation & VFX Specialization) (36 months)
Alumni of this school include popular actors and actresses including Silambarasan, Shruti Haasan, Sharada Ramanathan, G. V. Prakash Kumar, and Aparna Pillai.
More information in their official website here.
16. AJK, Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi
Established in 1982, Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Center of New Delhi gives training in journalism, film, and video production at a post-graduate level.
Courses offered: M.A. in Mass Communication, M.A. in Convergent Journalism, M.A in Development Communication, M.A. in Visual Effects and Animation, P.G. Diploma in Broadcast Technology, P.G. Diploma in Still Photography, and P.G. Diploma in Acting. Shahrukh Khan, Kiran Rao are some of the popular alumni of this acting college. Fees & Course Admission Details Here
Check out their official website here.
Bonus Mention
17. Annapurna International School of Film and Media, Hyderabad
India’s first private, non-profit media school founded by the Akkineni family, is one of India’s leading film schools today. It offers courses in acting, directing, cinematography, editing, writing, and producing. More details are here on the official website.
If you have any questions, please email me or ask in the comments below.
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