FTII sets up training school exclusively for screenwriters at Kothrud campus

PUNE: The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has set up a training school exclusively for screenwriters - ‘FTII Vijay Tendulkar Writer’s Academy’, at its Kothrud campus.

FTII Chairman BP Singh was present to inaugurate the academy on Saturday. The institute’s former director and actor Mohan Agashe, eminent playwright Satish Alekar, screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, FTII Director Bhupendra Kainthola, Registrar RN Pathak, Head of Department of Feature Film Screenplay Writing Ketki Pandit along with other members were also present at the inaugural function.

Singh stated that the academy is one of its kind in India. “The vision of the academy is to become an educational hub for writing for cinema, television (TV) and web with a spectrum of courses such as writing for short films, web series, film reviews and criticism, lyrics, etc, offered for writers at various levels of experience and availability. The academy will help the industry overcome the acute shortage of good screenwriters,” said Singh.

“Over the last three years, the institute has been making concerted and continuous efforts to democratise film education by offering short and part-time courses to commoners across the country under Skilling India in Film and Television (SKIFT) and opening up opportunities for thousands,” said Kainthola.

Pandit informed that initially, weekend and evening courses will be launched benefiting students, professionals, aspiring or struggling writers, etc. The programme will offer hands-on writing courses for aspirants who can’t afford to invest two years in the full-time screenwriting course at FTII. The institute has also been planning to start online courses. 

The classrooms and staff room have been named after legendary women writers - Ismat Chughtai, Durga Bhagwat, Mahashweta Devi, Amrita Pritam and Krishna Sobti.