Established in 2004 Pune, India
Screenwriting Department
Film and Television Institute of India
The Screenwriting Department at FTII was the first such department in the country to offer a dedicated screenwriting programme. A pioneer in screenwriting pedagogy, the department provides rigorous and holistic education to nurture the next generation of screenwriters and storytellers who develop a unique artistic voice while remaining responsive to the ever-evolving landscape of the film and media industry.
The program is designed to encourage the development of compelling narratives across diverse formats including cinema, television, web series and emerging digital platforms. Grounded in the rich and diverse cultural tapestry of India, the curriculum enables students to engage deeply with storytelling traditions while exploring contemporary forms and voices. Since its inception, the department has trained numerous screenwriters who have gone on to write acclaimed films and television series that connect with wide and diverse audiences. Their work has been recognized nationally and internationally at prestigious film festivals and awards, including the National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, Berlinale and the Emmy Awards.
Functioning as a vibrant creative ecosystem, the department benefits from a dynamic network of alumni and industry professionals who remain actively engaged in mentoring and collaborating with the students. This ongoing exchange fosters a culture of learning, innovation and artistic excellence, empowering our screenwriters to contribute meaningfully to the storytelling traditions of both Indian and global cinema.
- Name of the Programme : Master of Fine Arts in Cinema
- Specialization : Screenwriting (Film, TV & Web series)
- Programme Duration : Two Years ( Four Semesters)
- Total Credit : 80
| MFA - Cinema in Screenwriting | Total Credit |
|---|---|
| 1st Semester (Common Module) | 20 |
| 2nd Semester (Specialization) | 20 |
| 3rd Semester (Specialization) | 20 |
| 4th Semester (Specialization) | 20 |
Programme Introduction
The Master of Fine Arts in Cinema with a specialization in Screenwriting is a two-year, four-semester professional programme aimed at developing industry-ready screenwriters. Through structured writing practice, film analysis and mentorship from faculty and industry professionals, students create original feature screenplays, a web series bible and a collaborative thesis film, while gaining essential knowledge of cinematic storytelling, intellectual property and the Indian film industry, culminating in a final pitching workshop and industry-facing pitching marathon.
- Semester I: offers a common foundation in core filmmaking principles through theory and practice.
- Semester II: builds essential screenwriting skills through feature film writing, analysis and structured development while touching upon the extra-disciplinary aspects of the same with an exit option of a PG Diploma in Cinema (Specialization in Screenwriting)
- Semester III: advances feature and episodic writing through genre studies, series development and collaborative processes.
- Semester IV: focuses on professional readiness through thesis screenplay development, pitching, industrial practices and hands-on involvement in thesis film production and industry interaction.
Objectives of the Programme
The Programme aims to equip students with a strong foundation in cinematic storytelling, enabling them to conceive, develop and refine original narrative ideas into full-length feature film or episodic screenplays. Through a rigorous engagement with the principles of dramatic writing, such as character, conflict, structure, theme and visual storytelling, the programme seeks to build both analytical and creative competence in narrative fiction. Students will learn to appreciate and critically analyze existing cinematic and episodic works while acquiring practical skills in writing industry-standard screenplays and associated development documents, including synopses, treatments, outlines and pitch materials. The courses under the programme also emphasize professional readiness by familiarizing students with the industrial ecosystem of Indian cinema, intellectual property rights and collaborative practices. By fostering an awareness of individual artistic voice alongside collaborative and practical constraints, the programme encourages students to develop versatile, original and production-conscious screenplays suitable for contemporary professional contexts.
Program Specific Outcome (PSO)
Upon completion of this program, all graduates are expected to have:
- Keen sense of cinematic storytelling to develop original narrative feature film ideas into full fledged screenplays using strong visual imagination.
- Firm grasp of narrative fiction with a nuanced understanding of various aspects of dramatic writing such as character, setting, conflict, story, premise, theme, structure, plotting, scene design, dialogue and motifs.
- Appreciation and analysis of feature film and episodic formats with the know-how of developing fully fledged screenplays.
- Proficiency in writing various documents related to feature film/ episodic projects, such as synopses, treatments, outlines, character sketches, show bibles, pitch decks etc.
- Competence to write screenplays that adhere to industry-standards and formats. Ability to pitch and narrate scripts at various stages to producers, directors, actors and other potential collaborators.
- Comprehensive understanding of the industrial ecosystem of Indian cinema—both mainstream and independent—including knowledge of intellectual property rights and the confidence to navigate professional agreements such as contracts, NDAs, MOUs and releases as a freelancing screenwriter.
- Develop an insight into one’s own artistic voice and writing rhythms; and a comprehensive skill-set that allows versatile expression of this unique voice.
- Ability to creatively write screenplays keeping in mind the practical constraints and demonstrate ability to collaboratively develop full fledged screenplays with creative teams like Directors, Co-Writers, Actors, Cinematographers and Art Directors.
Faculty
- Sumit Kumar – Professor and HoD (In-Charge)
- Dharmakriti Suman - Associate Professor
- Vaibhav Jadhav : Associate Professor
- Sameer Saral Sharma : Associate Professor
- Jagriti Thakur : Assistant Professor
- Shrikrishna Pandey : Assistant Professor