Film and Television Institute of India


The Film and Television Institute of India is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India and aided by the Central Government of India. It is situated on the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Film Company in Pune. Since its inception in 1960, FTII has become India's premier film and television institute, with its alumni becoming technicians, actors and directors in the film and television industry.
FTII is a member of the International Liaison Centre of Schools of Cinema and Television, an organisation of the world's leading schools of film and television.
The Centre will set up a new Institute in Arunachal Pradesh as part of an initiative to tap the potential of the North Eastern region, Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, Dr. Jitendra Singh has informed.

History

The institute was established in 1960 and started its courses in 1961. The Television Training wing, which was earlier functioning in New Delhi, shifted to Pune in 1974. Thereafter, the institute became fully aided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In July 2011, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that a bill in Parliament to develop the FTII into a 'Centre of Excellence' would be introduced. This would enable the institute to enjoy the academic status and privileges of a university.

Courses

The Institute offers three-year post-graduate diploma courses in film direction, editing, cinematography and audiography; two-year courses in acting and art direction; a one and a half year course in computer graphics and animation; a one-year course in feature film scriptwriting. One-year post-graduate certificate in direction, electronic cinematography, video editing and audiography are also part of the courses offered.

Management

The FTII is registered under Societies' Registration Act of 1860. The Society is headed by a President, who also functions as the Chairman of the Governing Council, the Academic Council and the Standing Finance Committee. The Governing Council is constituted by election from among the members of the Society. The Governing Council is the apex body of the FTII and is responsible for making all major policy decisions of the Institute. The council, in turn, appoints the Academic Council and the Standing Finance Committee, members of both of which are responsible for advising the FTII in policy matters related to academic affairs and financial matters.
A Director serves as the institute's Executive Head and implements its policies and programmes. Prashant Pathrabe, a 1992 batch officer of Indian Information Service, has been given temporary charge as Director following end of the term of DJ Narain. Gajendra Chauhan, the designated chairman of the governing council, is yet to join, owing to protest overs his appointment. The protests have been continuing for over 95 days but the logjam over appointment still remains.

List of presidents of FTII Society

Wisdom Tree in FTII is like a informal Master Class where students discuss topics with Filmmakers.

Controversies

In 2015, Gajendra Chauhan was appointed as the chairman of the institute which sparked protests by students at the institute.
On 18 August 2015, police — in a night-time crackdown — arrested striking students who confined FTII director Prashant Pathrabe and other staffers in his office for eight hours. The director claimed that students harassed and mentally tortured him. The students were released on bail.
A video showing students surrounding the director and shouting was released by the management. In response the students released an undated video of cops manhandling students and breaking glass in the director's office, The striking students vehemently condemned the act by the Pune police to come and arrest students past midnight.