Buoyed by the confidence earned from its foray into film production, the Mahatma Gandhi University will soon launch a full-fledged School of Film Studies.

Among the five new schools that have received approval from the government, the School of Film Studies is likely to be launched in the new academic year.

The others include School of Economics, School of Nano Science and Technology, School of Energy Materials, and School of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

“The School of Film Studies will be the first-of-its-kind department among the universities in the State. Our idea is to model it on the lines of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune,” said R. Pragash, Syndicate member and part of the committee constituted by the university to submit a report on the proposed school.

Two-year PG course

Mr. Pragash said the school would offer full-time two-year postgraduate courses. “We also plan to have one-year postgraduate diploma and short-term courses in direction, cinematography, etc. The committee will also look into other areas in which programmes could be offered in the second phase,” he said.

At Thodupuzha

The school will come up on an estimated 20 acres of land at the University College of Engineering, Muttom in Thodupuzha under the Mahatma Gandhi University.

The varsity authorities have plans to leverage the increasing popularity of Thodupuzha as a destination for film production work. Several Malayalam films were canned in places in and around Thodupuzha in recent times.

Second venture

The varsity’s tryst with filmmaking received a boost after it launched a full-length feature film Samaksham in November last under its own banner. The second venture titled Trip is slated for release in March.

The school will seek the support of various stakeholders in the film industry across the country.

Several renowned filmmakers will be invited to the proposed campus to share their experience with students.