"All art in the last analysis is poetry. Poetry is the archetype of all creativity. Cinema at its best turns into poetry." - Ritwik Ghatak

Vision

Film today is at the most exciting juncture in its history.
The big industrial film has begun to realign itself to changing expectations and new platforms of viewership. On the other hand, small and independent films that tell personal stories, question and investigate issues, or quite simply experiment with form and image, have also found a larger global audience.
From fiction to documentaries, narrative to non-narrative, and silver screen to pixel screen, film has found a diversity of forms, contexts, and viewing environments making it an enduring and viable art practice for the future. This understanding defines the four-year BFA programme in Film at Srishti Manipal.

The programme is designed to realise the dream of “camera stylo”, where a camera is wielded almost as easily and fluidly as a pen. While ready access to professional image and sound recording technology makes this possible, the programme aims to rediscover the spirit of experimentation and rigour of craftsmanship that marked cinema’s early years. Even as the medium continues to adapt and redefine itself in the digital age, the programme’s vision drives aspiring filmmakers to make the language of film their own.

Core Values

Course Structure

The curriculum comprises of different ways of learning as follows:

1. Foundation introduces students to basic principles and tools of Art, Design and Technology as methods, tools and processes. Read more >>
2. Disciplinary Studios are learning spaces where students develop core disciplinary capabilities, while navigating a trans-disciplinary environment
3. General Studies is a common and compulsory programme of study that integrates Humanities, Sciences, Maths, business and finance. Development and Policy Studies and also offers Languages (Spanish, French and German) Read more >>
4. Interim is an immersive introduction to practice in new and emerging areas of art and design and environmental exposure
5. Electives are of three kinds - this program allows students to expand their skills, develop the interests as well as provide opportunities for travel exchange
6. Internship/Apprenticeship is compulsory work experience done over the summer-break between the 6th and 7th semester
7. Project based learning involves the application and synthesis of capabilities acquired. Two projects, pre-thesis and thesis, is culmination of the 4-year undergraduate program, which allows for demonstration of an integration of values, positions, capabilities and practice. Read more >>

Learning Approach

The 4-year undergraduate course offers a broad perspective on the art and craft of filmmaking. The practices of watching films, discussing films and making films inform each other and provide ample opportunities for building conceptual and reflective skills. Inputs in different aspects of filmmaking such as camera, sound, editing and direction equip learners to find tangible expression for their ideas. Intensive workshops conducted by experienced film practitioners help in arriving at a balanced understanding of film technique and aesthetics. The approach is hands on and enables the learner to become thoroughly conversant with the film medium.

Engaging with different modes of filmmaking in fiction, documentary, and all that lies in between, encourages aspiring filmmakers to discover their unique artistic expression.

Capabilities

On successful completion of this undergrauate course in Film students will develop the ability for

• Watching, reading and writing about films critically
• Employing a range of research methods in generating insights and formulating positions
• Finding expression through image and/or sound
• Experimenting with form/technique/material
• Constructing narrative, meaning, moments
• Thoughtful creating of characters, situations, scenarios
• Using the possibilities of the filmmaking process to make decisions in planned and unplanned situations
• Sharing skills to work collaboratively as a team
• Realising ones creative intent through technique and craft
• Autonomy and self-direction in taking work ahead
• Production planning and time management
• Conceptualising and making a short film independently

Student work

Over the years, films made by our students have participated and won awards in numerous festivals and found recognition of their creative expression.

Opportunities

The above capability sets equip and prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities:

• Undertake the making of independent or commissioned short films
• Work in different capacities on any film or audio-visual production
• Work in any media organisation including Television and Advertising agencies
• Specialise in a particular aspect of filmmaking
• Pursue higher studies in an art related field

People

Enquiries

Disciplinary Intersections

This undergraduate program in film intersects with the following disciplines:

Research and Collaboration

Students of film courses have the opportunity to engage with and draw upon, the knowledge resources of other schools as well as the labs and centres at Srishti.

FAQs