Film making colleges provide courses like film direction, film production, screenplay writing and many among others.
Film direction is basically telling stories through various visual mediums and for this one needs immense passion for this career path along with a deep artistic and technical knowledge. Discussing more about film direction courses in India, we have provided a list of colleges, fees, duration, admission, entrance exams, job prospects, salary, etc.
These courses are provided in online and offline mode. Certification courses (online/offline), diploma, pg diploma, bachelor, post graduate and PhD programs are provided by many Film Making and Film Direction institutes in India.
The course duration differs for each program depending upon the institute regulations. Speaking about PhD courses, since there is no specialized Film Direction course in India, one can pursue a doctorate in Film Making and Media Studies for in-depth knowledge about the subject. After graduating from film direction, students can easily land themselves in career paths like cinematographer, assistant directors, screenwriter, casting director and many more. Some of the top skills demanded by the recruiters are excellent creative and artistic skills.
Film Direction Courses: Highlights
| Type of Courses |
|
| Duration |
|
| Eligibility |
|
| Online Courses | Available |
| Types of Online Courses (if available) | Udemy, Whistling Woods International, Confluence India, etc |
| Top Job Prospects | Film director, Assistant director, cinematographer, casting director, screenwriter, etc |
| Average Salary | INR 2-5 Lakhs per annum depending upon the company one is hired. : |
Online Certificate courses are generally self-paced. The course in Film Direction can be done by students who are a passionate storyteller and who have a knack for art and creativity.
Certificate Film Direction Courses
Certificate courses in film direction are available in both online and offline mode. These courses are done to gain additional skills in the area of interest. Online modes usually are self-paced, however, offline modes require students to be on campus for learning the film direction course.
For your reference we have listed down both the online and offline modes of this course.
Online Film Direction Certificates
| Certificate | Institute | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Direction | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | 3 months | INR 40,000 |
| Certificate in Direction | LV Prasad Film and Television Academy, Chennai | 15 weekends | INR 44,000 |
| Certificate in Film Making and Proficiency | Confluence India | 3 months | N/A |
| Certificate in Filmmaking | Filmmaking: Write, Direct and Distribute your Feature Film by Udemy | Self-pace | INR 360 |
| Certificate in Filmmaking | Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen by National Film and Television School | 6 weeks | Free |
- The online certification course does not generally require specific eligibility criteria as long as they have a decent smartphone or a computer.
- These courses cover a wide variety of subjects in a short span of time and equip students with industry related concepts of film making and film direction.
- Most of the courses are usually self-paced and the certificates are provided after overall assessment.
- For certificate courses provided by the award winning National Film and Television School, one needs to pay around INR 5,500 for gaining additional benefits and a certificate, otherwise the course is free.
Offline Film Direction Certificates
| Certificate | Institute | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Film Direction | The ICE Institute | 3 months (Foundation) | N/A |
| Certificate in Film Direction | The ICE Institute | 9 months (Advanced) | N/A |
| Certificate in Film Making and Direction | Mumbai Film Academy, Mumbai | 6 months | INR 1,00,000 |
| Certificate in Film Making | National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Kolkata | 18 months | INR 74,000 |
| PG Certificate in Direction (TV) | Film and Television Institute of India | 1 year | INR 1,29,834 |
| Certificate in Production Direction & TV Journalism | Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida (AAFT) | 3 months | N/A |
How are Admissions in Offline Certification Programs of Film Direction Done?
- The basic eligibility criterion for the course is 10+2 level of education from a recognized institute.
- For a PG diploma certification program, a student must possess a bachelor degree in any discipline.
- The offline certification course in film direction requires one to be on campus to learn about filmmaking first hand.
- This course equips students with practical knowledge within a short span of time and makes them industry ready.
Top Colleges for Offline Certificate Film Direction Courses
The top colleges offering offline film direction certification courses are listed in this section.
| Institute Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Atharva Institute of Film and Television Institute | Mumbai |
| Isha Film and Television Academy | Mumbai |
| Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics | Nagpur |
| YMCA New Delhi | New Delhi |
| MV Media Institute | Lucknow |
| The ICE Institute | Mumbai |
| Mumbai Film Academy | Mumbai |
| National Institute of Film and Fine Arts | Kolkata |
| Film and Television Institute of India | Pune |
| Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) | Noida |
Diploma Film Direction Courses
Diploma and PG diploma courses in Film Direction enable students to learn about complexities involved in the film industry. As glamorous as it looks, the film industry involves extremely hard working people behind the lens. To provide this knowledge of complexities, various diploma and pg diploma programs are conducted by premiere institutes of filmmaking.
For your convenience we have listed various institutes providing diploma and PG diploma courses in Film Direction.
Top UG Diploma Film Direction Courses
| Certificate | Institute | Duration | Annual Fees | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced diploma in film making with cinematography | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | 2 years | INR 11,00,000 | ||
| Diploma in film making | Zee Institute of Media Arts, Mumbai | 1 year | N/A | ||
| Diploma in film making | Matrikas Film School, Delhi | 1 year | N/A | ||
| Diploma in screenplay and direction | Adyar Film Institute, Chennai | 3 years | INR 15,000 | ||
| Diploma in film making and direction | Mumbai Film Academy, Mumbai | 1 year | INR 1,60,000 | ||
| Diploma in Film Direction | National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Kolkata | 2 years | INR 1,90,000 | ||
How are Admissions in the Diploma Program of Film Direction done?
- Aspiring students wanting to avail this course must complete their 10+2 level of education with an aggregate of 50%
- For admission to the course, candidates can directly apply through the respective desired college website.
- For admission in Whistling Woods International, one must pass the entrance test which consists of four components: General Aptitude Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT), Personal Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Personal Interview (PI).
- Institutes like Matrikas Film School offer part-time on-campus diploma courses for this course. Candidates would be shortlisted on the basis of personal interview and the marks obtained in 10+2.
Top Colleges for Diploma Film Direction Courses
| India Today Ranking | Institute Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Loyola College | Chennai |
| 27 | Whistling Woods International | Mumbai |
| -- | Mumbai Film Academy | Mumbai |
| -- | LV Prasad Film and TV Academy | Chennai |
| -- | Zee Institute of Media Arts | Kolkata |
| -- | National Institute of Film and Fine Arts | Kolkata |
| -- | Matrikas Film School | Delhi |
| -- | Adyar Film Institute | Chennai |
| -- | Kalapurnam Institute of Visual Effects and Animation MAYA | Ahmedabad |
| -- | Design Media and Edutainment Solutions | Pune |
Top PG Diploma Film Direction Courses
| Certificate | Institute | Duration & Eligibility | Fees (Annual) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG diploma in direction | Film and Television Institute of India, Pune | 3 years+ JET+BA in any discipline | INR 24,000 | ||
| PGD in film and tv direction | LV Prasad Film and Television Academy, Chennai | 2 years+ Graduate in any discipline | INR 4,67,500 | ||
| PGD in digital film making | Access Atlantech Edutainment, Chennai | 1 year+ Graduate | N/A | ||
| PGD in Scriptwriting and Direction | K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts | 3 years+ Graduate in any discipline from a UGC/Govt. of Kerala approved institute | INR 65,000 | ||
| PGD in Youtube Filmmaking | Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television, Delhi | Graduation in any discipline (no minimum %) | INR 75,000 | ||
| PGD in Direction | Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida (AAFT) | Graduate+ AAFT GEE entrance | INR 68,200 | ||
How are Admissions in PG Diploma Programs of Film Direction Courses done?
- The basic eligibility criterion for this course is a graduate in any discipline with at least 50% aggregate score.
- For CRAFT institute there is no minimum percentage for the admission.
- For some institutes admissions are done on merit basis, however, for colleges like AAFT, FTII, etc one must clear an entrance test like Joint Entrance Test (JET) or AAFT General Entrance Test (AAFT GEE)
- Candidates are, however, advised to read the admission criteria carefully to keep themselves updated on any minor or major changes.
Top Colleges for PG Diploma Film Direction Courses
| Institute Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Film and Television Institute of India | Pune |
| Digital Academy | Mumbai |
| LV Prasad Film and TV Academy | Chennai |
| Access Atlantech Edutainment | Chennai |
| University of Mumbai | Mumbai |
| Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) | Noida |
| K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts | Kerala |
| Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television | Delhi |
Bachelor Film Direction Courses
Bachelor in film direction/filmmaking is generally a 3-year program which enables students to extensively learn about film direction, the skills required, pre-production, production and post-production works. They learn about essentials of cinema like story writing, screenwriting, editing, script breakdown, lighting, and exposure, making call sheets, film editing and many more.
Aspiring students can refer to the list below of various institutes providing this course.
| Course | Institute | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA in Filmmaking (Direction) | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | 3 years | 27,00,000 |
| B.Sc in Filmmaking (Direction) | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | 3 years | 27,00,000 |
| B.Sc in Cinema+ Diploma in Direction | Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida (AAFT) | 3 years | N/A |
| B.A (Hons.) in Film and Media (Direction and Scriptwriting) | Annapurna International School of Film and Media, Hyderabad | 3 years | N/A |
How are Admissions in the Bachelor Program of Film Direction Courses done?
- Candidates must possess at least 50% aggregate in 10+2 level of education from a recognized institute.
- For the admission in this course, students must crack the entrance exam held by the respective colleges.
- After the completion of the course candidates can get hired by various leading media industries like Zee network, Amazon Prime Video, Maddock Films, Netflix, etc.
Top Colleges for Bachelor Film Direction Courses
| NIRF Ranking | Institute | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | University of Mumbai | Mumbai |
| 151 | Amity University | Jaipur |
| -- | Whistling Woods International | Mumbai |
| -- | Sharda University | Noida |
| -- | Annapurna College of Film and Media | Hyderabad |
| -- | Asian Academy of Film and Television(AAFT) | Noida |
| -- | Amity School of Communication | Noida |
| -- | KIIT School of Film and Media Science | Orissa |
| -- | Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts | Haryana |
PG Film Direction Courses
The course provides in-depth knowledge about the technical aspects of film direction on-hand with various practical works including script writing, shooting, editing, etc. As the director is a storyteller, this course equips students with numerous storytelling techniques to appeal to the audience. This program enables students to be industry ready by providing relevant theoretical and practical training on Films, Radio and Television.
We have listed down the top colleges providing PG in Film Direction for your reference.
| Course | Institute | Duration | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG in Direction & Screenplay Writing | Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata | 3 years | INR 1.82 Lakhs |
| PG in Direction & Producing for EDM | Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata | 2 years | INR 1.82 Lakhs |
| MA in Film and Media | Annapurna International School of Film and Media, Hyderabad | 2 years | INR 11.85 Lakhs |
| M.Sc. (Cinema)+PG Diploma in Direction | Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida | 2 years | N/A |
How are Admissions in PG Film Direction Courses Done?
- Aspiring students must complete their graduation in any discipline with an aggregate of 50% marks.
- Entrance exams like JET, SRFTI JET, AAFT GEE, etc are organized by colleges for shortlisting students for the course.
- The selected candidates are then called for a personal interview and counseling round.
- However, the admission process varies according to institute rules, so it is advisable for students to stay updated about their desired institute.
Top Colleges for PG Film Direction Courses
| NIRF Ranking | Institute Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Jadavpur University | Kolkata |
| 101 | Ambedkar University | New Delhi |
| -- | Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute | Kolkata |
| -- | Annapurna College of Film and Media | Hyderabad |
| -- | Whistling Woods International | Mumbai |
| -- | Asian Academy of Film and Television | Hyderabad |
Top Entrance Exams for PG Film Direction Courses
| Name | Conducting Body | Mode | Last Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whistling Aptitude Test | Whistling Woods International, Mumbai | -- | Announced |
| FTII JET | Film and Television Institute of India, Pune | Offline | Last week of January |
| SRFTI JET | Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata | -- | Announced |
| AAFT GEE | Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida | Online | June |
Career Prospects After the Completion of Film Direction Courses
Being a director just after the course is generally impractical as you would still lack experience, hence, below are the list of job prospects and the skills required that will lead you to be an actual Film Director based on your industry experience.
Cinematographer
Cinematographer is the one involved in visual effects with the help of camera, lighting, exposure, lenses and is responsible to narrate visually appealing stories to the audience. They have in-depth knowledge about technical aspects of the camera, their placement, lenses to be utilized, shot composition, camera movement and its placement for a perfect shot of a particular scene.
Average Salary: 3.69 LPA
Starting Salary: 2,70,000
Skills Required:
- Excellent knowledge about camera and other equipments
- Eye for composition
- Knowledge about technicality of cameras
- Eye for detail
- Knowledge about lighting and exposure
- Excellent creativity
- Teamwork
Assistant Director
Assistant directors basically look after the day-to-day operations of the film production and work as the mediator between the crew members and the director. They are responsible for maintaining set decorum and planning the schedule of a film.
Average Salary: 4.70 LPA
Starting Salary: 2,32,000
Skills Required:
- Excellent communication skills
- Team management
- Leadership
- Basic knowledge about all the departments in a film set
- Multi-tasking skills
Screenwriter
A Screenwriter is responsible for writing a script for a movie dialogue, advertisements etc. They convert ideas into words which if appeals to the directors or the film producers, transforms it into a film. Generally, they are even given the work to rework on pre-existing scripts by altering or even adding creative narratives.
Average Salary: 5 LPA
Starting Salary: 4,20,000
Skills required:
- Excellent writing skills
- Editing skills
- Observational skills
- Creative thinking
- Interpersonal skills
- Multi-tasking
- Attention to details
Film Editor
Film editors are responsible to add, edit, cut and even discard unwanted shots in a video. They are even required to shoot other short videos, add texts, music, sound effect, etc on wherever required.
Average salary: 4.50 LPA
Starting Salary: 3,70,000
Skills Required:
- Critical thinking
- Observational skills
- Knowledge about various editing software
- Patience
- Problem-solving
- Flexibility
- Creative thinking
What Skills are Required in Film Direction Courses?
Apart from all the general skills, recruiters do want skills that make one stand tall from the crowd. They search for certified skills, especially skills that are transferable.
Video Editing
Editing is one of the primary factors of a film or a video to bring out the essence of the director’s imagination. Editing can even spoil or even enhance a film, which is why an editor’s role is immensely important in the film making process.
Below is the list of top best selling online courses for your reference.
| Course | Provider | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Jordan’s Video Training Library | Larry Jordan | Self-pace | 1,402/month |
| Video Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners | SkillShare | 3h 22m | INR 150/month |
| DaVinci Resolve 15, 16 and 17 Complete Video Editing Course | Udemy | 11.5 hours | INR 8,640 |
Video Editing Course Syllabus
| Basic Editing | Speed Ramping |
| Overwriting and inserting clips in the timeline | Creating sequence |
| After Effects, Final Cut Pro | Keyframing and animation |
Job Prospects for Video Editing Skills
- Freelance Video Editor
- Film Editor
- Television Studio Editor
- Multimedia Artist
Visual Storytelling
Visual storytelling is basically narrating stories through various digital mediums. It is a known fact that a film director must have extraordinary storytelling skills. This skill needs a lot of creativity plus technical knowledge. As it needs immense practical knowledge, recruiters will instantly hire if you appeal their eyes as unique storytelling needs a lot of detailing.
Below is the list of top visual storytelling courses available online.
| Course | Provider | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Art of Storytelling | The Khan Academy | Self-pace | Free |
| Visual Thinking: Drawing Data to Communicate Ideas | SkillShare | 1 hour | Free |
| Storytelling for Marketing and Entrepreneurship | Udemy | 2.5 hours | INR 750 |
| The Craft Behind Cinematic Storytelling | Udemy | 1.5 hours | INR 750 |
Visual Storytelling Course Syllabus
| Story structure | Film grammar |
| Creating a character | Visual language |
| Decoding the story | Character |
| Visual metaphors | Compelling storytelling |
Job Prospects for Visual Storytelling Skills
- Visual Designer
- Visual Associate
- Website Designer
- Visual storytelling in various digital and social media platforms
Film Direction Courses: FAQs
Ques: Can I pursue a Masters in film direction course after completing B.SC?
Ans: Any student can pursue this course as long as you have done a graduation with 50% aggregate in any discipline. If you want to go for a Science related background you can easily opt for M.SC in Cinema offered by AAFT and various other institutes.
Ques: Can I do a part-time course?
Ans: For part-time courses you can easily go for certificate courses in institutes like Matrikas Film School, Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), etc for part-time on-campus courses.
Ques: Can I become a film director after passing out from this course?
Ans: To become a film director right after this course is not possible as long as you have a huge amount of money to invest plus the talent. Experience helps to rise on that ladder of a successful film director.
Ques: What are the career prospects after this course?
Ans: After the successful completion of this course you can become a cinematographer, assistant director, casting director, production designer, film editor, screenwriter, etc.
Ques: Is there any doctorate degree for film direction courses?
Ans: At present, there are no doctorate courses solely for film direction courses, however, you can pursue PhD in Film Studies if you wish to go for media studies.
Ques: Is there any difference between film direction and filmmaking course?
Ans: Film direction courses will specialize you only on director roles, however, filmmaking courses will make you an all-rounder as it equips you to explore various roles in film like director, producer, film editor, screenplay writer and many more.
Ques: Which institute is best for film direction courses?
Ans: All institutes are equally good as the other. However, according to CNBC TV Satyajit Ray Film Institute and Film and Television institute in India are among the world’s best film schools.
Ques: Is it important to have camera knowledge for the course?
Ans: It is preferred to have basic knowledge about cameras, their technicalities also one must be updated about the latest software available for editing purposes.
Ques: Is there any future after this course?
Ans: Yes. If you want industry knowledge about how the media works, then this course is the best for you. With the skills acquired from this course you can easily become a successful vlogger, digital filmmaker, film/video editor, scriptwriter, assistant director, etc, if you have the passion.
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