Edu-leaders

A bill would be introduced in the Parliament to enable the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) to become a centre of excellence, said Ambika Soni, Minister for Information & Broadcasting. This recognition would enable the institute to foster creative ideas and also enjoy the academic status and privileges of a university.

Through this, the FTII can draw a road map to address the growing needs of media and entertainment industry.

A group of experts have already prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed upgradation of the institute. The report contains recommendations for revitalisation of the courses currently offered by the institute. It also envisages enhancing its infrastructure. The report will be considered by the governing council of the institute which is meeting on 6th July 2011.

Speaking on the occasion, Soni informed that the Planning Commission has recently approved an allocation of Rs 660 crores to set up the National Film Heritage Mission, which envisages digitisation of film heritage of the country preserved by Departments viz National Film Archives of India, National Film Development Corporation, Films Division, Directorate of Film Festival and Children Film Society of India, among others.

The members of the consultative committee said that the FTII should reach out to remote areas in order to tap the talent available there. For this, it was proposed to hold mobile short-term courses in critical aspects of film making. In this context, the minister said this proposal is in sync with the outreach strategy being adopted by the ministry with respect to opening of four regional centres of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication at Jammu, Aizawl, Amravati and Kerala. The minister also informed that a similar strategy was being adopted by the Directorate of Film Festivals by taking the national award winning films to different parts of the country through its Mini Film Festivals.