Latest news with #NationalFilmDevelopmentCorporation
News18
20-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Mumbai Gets India's 1st Institute of Creative Technologies: Courses To Jobs, All You Need To Know
Last Updated: The first batch of 300 students will begin classes in September on the campus on National Film Development Corporation's premises on Mumbai's Pedder Road News18 In a major boost to India's digital and creative economy sector, the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) will open admissions for its first batch starting this August. The first batch of 300 students will begin classes in September on National Film Development Corporation's premises on Mumbai's Pedder Road. What will students learn? The institute will offer industry-driven courses in the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector. The institute, which was announced by Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, at World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in May 2025, is backed by prestigious global partnerships and industry leaders, a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting release said. The inaugural academic offering includes six specialised courses in gaming, four courses in Post Production and eight courses in Animation, Comics and XR. Collaboration with foreign universities, global companies IICT recently signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of York, United Kingdom, paving the way for collaborative research, faculty exchange and global certification pathways. Leading global companies such as Google, YouTube, Adobe, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA and JioStar have committed to long-term collaborations with IICT. Their support encompasses curriculum development, scholarships, internships, startup incubation and placement opportunities. IICT, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vishwas Deoskar stated that the vision is to make India a global powerhouse in the AVGC-XR sector by nurturing world-class talent. The courses are designed to meet global standards while being rooted in India's dynamic creative potential. The detailed curriculum is expected to be announced later this month. With the global AVGC-XR industry projected to grow exponentially, IICT's comprehensive course offerings aim to build a future-ready talent pool that will contribute significantly to India's creative economy and position the country as a leader in immersive and digital content technologies, the release said. view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 19:53 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Ailing actor Dharma: 'I want to work, can be a producer'
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular 1980s actor, Dharma Harun Al-Rashid, 69, has expressed his clear refusal to rely on donations as his primary source of income. Instead, he is keen to return to work. Dharma specifically aims to continue his career in the creative industry, focusing on behind-the-scenes roles as a producer. "Give me work. When there's work, the money will come automatically," he said during the special screening of the new film 'Felai Fx' at the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) in Petaling Jaya yesterday. The veteran actor shared that his recent involvement in 'Felai Fx' had successfully reignited his passion for being back on set. "I don't think of this as a job, but something I truly love," he added. Dharma is also grateful for the continued support from his friends, who often visit him at his residence in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. "Many old artiste friends have come to visit me, such as Datuk DJ Dave, Noor Kumalasari, and Haiza. When we share stories, I instantly feel happier." Previously, producer Richard Ung organised a special screening of the action film 'Felai Fx', which stars Dharma, and also channelled donations to him. Dharma suffered a stroke a few years ago but is now gradually recuperating.
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First Post
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
EXCLUSIVE! NFDC's Prakash Magdum: ‘It is our duty to preserve the cinematic heritage of our country, make it accessible…'
It's been two months that Prakash Magdum took over as the head of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). In an interview with Firstpost for 'Not Just Bollywood', Magdum spoke on what changes he plans to bring about in cinema, the IFFI that is going to be held this year and more. read more In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstpost, Prakash Magdum, head of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) talks on supporting Indian independent filmmakers as the prime objective and to promote Indian cinema worldwide and what are the changes we wish to see at IFFI this year. Edited excerpts of the interview: What are the changes that you plan to bring about? NFDC being one of the premier organisations of the government of India and now after the merger of other film organizations, the mandate has really become very comprehensive. But first and foremost, supporting the Indian independent filmmakers, has been the prime objective of NFDC that we will continue to do. At the same time, we also want to promote Indian cinema worldwide. We want to promote Indian cinema as soft power. And, third thing, since it is now part of the ecosystem, it means preserving the legacy, preserving the cinematic heritage of our country. Apart from restoration and preservation, we have to make cinema accessible. And, last but not the least, you know, promoting India as a filming destination so that we can get, foreign filmmakers to come and shoot in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There is an attractive incentive scheme which has been announced by the government of India in the ministry of information broadcasting. So, we have a portal called 'India Hub'. It's kind of a single window system where you can submit all your applications online, and we will facilitate everything. What are the different genres of movies we will get to see at this year's IFFI? It's going to be different. IFFI always had two sections, Indian panorama and the international section that will be a part of the setup. At the same time, Film Bazaar is an important activity which happens during IFFI. A lot of budding filmmakers have emerged out of Film Bazaar. Right from the script stage, work in progress, co-production, market, mentoring, a film viewing room, all those things are all different verticals. **Cinema is also changing. There are films made for the theatrical, for OTT, and some for the festivals. What do you have to say about that benefit? ** You are absolutely right. Both theatrical releases as well as the streaming platforms we are exploring. In fact, we just have signed an agreement with Amazon where the NFDC filmography can be seen on its platform. We also are in touch with Prasar Bharati. They have their own platform. So that also we are exploring. Women's roles are also changing in cinema; what do you have to say about that bit of it? It is a content part of it. I think we need to support the writers as well, you know, the screenwriters specifically. And we are thinking of a scriptwriter's lab, but we also are thinking how we can take it to different corners of the country. And in that process, the women filmmakers, the women storytellers, also.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kolkata offers tribute to cinema legend Guru Dutt, with screenings of his masterpieces and lectures
Kolkata is offering tribute to cinema legend Guru Dutt, with screenings of his restored masterpieces and lectures. The Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) hosted 'Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye Toh: Remembering Guru Dutt' on the occasion of the birth centenary of the filmmaker. As part of this commemoration, KCC is collaborating with the National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI) to present a curated screening of 'Pyaasa' and exhibition of digital prints of original posters and film-stills alongside critical talks and archival materials that reframe Dutt's legacy for new audiences. An official statement from organisers says, 'engage with Dutt not as a nostalgic icon, but as a spectral presence–an artist whose images still whisper urgently to the present.' The day-long immersive tribute commenced with a keynote address titled 'Affect, Authorship and Ideology' which was an extensive exploration of the aesthetics and politics of Guru Dutt's films by Prof. Ira Bhaskar, the former Dean of Jawaharlal Nehru University. She spoke of how his films displayed a choreography of light and movement, molding with music. Professor Bhaskar analysed the politics of his film 'Pyaasa' which she described as a 'very hard-hitting critique of capitalism with its prostitution of human emotions and values at the altar of capital.' She goes on to probe into some more of his essential works–examining Dutt's reflections on patriarchy, feudalism, the emerging modernity and the capitalist film industry. 'He spoke fluent Bangla, and it was his life's dream to make a film in Bengali,' Professor Bhaskar said about Guru Dutt's love for Bengal and the influence it had on him. She mentioned that she will return to Kolkata in November this year for a seminar on Ritwik Ghatak, who she describes as another all-time obsession of hers. The day was completed with a screening of Pyaasa, one of Dutt's most celebrated films.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Guru Dutt's restored classics to return to big screens as part of nationwide retrospective
As part of the centenary celebrations of legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt, a special retrospective of his iconic films will be held across the country from August 8 to 10, Ultra Media and Entertainment has announced. The retrospective will feature restored versions of some of Dutt's most celebrated films, including Pyaasa, Aar Paar, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Mr. & Mrs. 55 and Baaz. The restoration of Pyaasa and other titles has been undertaken by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), under the central government's National Film Heritage Mission. Sushilkumar Agrawal, MD & CEO, Ultra Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, which holds the rights to these films, said they are honoured to present the timeless movies of the late filmmaker-actor for his fans and cinema lovers. 'Guru Dutt's films are timeless masterpieces that have influenced generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. We are honoured to present his classics in restored versions so that both devoted fans and new audiences can relive the magic on the big screen,' Agrawal said in a statement. Rajat Agrawal, Chief Operating Officer at Ultra Media, said August is the opportune time for the re-release of Guru Dutt films in theatres. Ahead of the festival, he also said they are planning to have a round-table discussion with industry veterans. 'We wanted to do it in a good way, and wanted a clearer window in terms of what movies are there in theatres. We thought August 8 to 10 would be a good time, and it's closer to Independence Day, besides the weekend window is also there,' Agrawal told PTI, adding that they're aiming to release it in 250 to 500 screens across the country. He also said they are also deliberating on the idea of re-releasing the movies in some international territories. 'Besides, we are also planning international releases. We are targeting a few countries like France, the UK, and Australia, with whom we are in discussions right now. We do a lot of sales of his films for digital and satellite rights. ALSO READ:Daily Quiz | On films directed by Guru Dutt "We know there's an audience abroad for his movies. We've done screening rights of his films in the past at the festival where his movies are screened,' Agrawal added. Prakash Magdum, Managing Director at NFDC, said, "Restoring Guru Dutt's films goes far beyond reviving old reels. It's about safeguarding a priceless legacy that defines the soul of Indian cinema."
