Top 15 Film Schools in India 2025: Courses Offered, Fees, Scope

Are you looking forward to building a career in filmmaking? Find out what the best institutes for filmmaking courses in India are in the article below.
Top 15 Film Schools in India - The Indian film industry is the world’s largest film industry in terms of the number of releases per year. This creates a humungous amount of job opportunities for a variety of skill sets. Where does this workforce come from? There are colleges across the country that offer various degree, diploma and certificate courses in filmmaking. In this article, you will find a list of some of the best film schools in India that can lead you to a successful career in the Indian film industry. In addition to this list, you will also find the popular courses that these institutes offer along with their tuition fees. This is your guide to selecting your ideal film school. Read further to learn more.
Also Read -
Job Opportunities after MJMC
- Best Film Schools in India
- Popular Courses Offered by Film Schools in India
- FTII JET
- Job Opportunities for Film School
- Scope in the Film Industry
- FAQs on Film Schools in India
Best Film Schools in India
In a country like ours, movies are influential for people from all walks of life. The film industry has numerous professionals working in it, like actors, actresses, writers, directors, screenwriters, film editors, music producers, singers, technicians like lightmen, cinematographers, etc. Each person has an important role to play in bringing a vision to reality. To acquire the skills for any of these professions, an education is of the utmost importance. The best film schools are dedicated to providing this education to aspiring young minds. Some of the top film schools in India are listed in the table below, along with their tuition fee ranges.
Name of Film School |
Courses Offered |
Course Fees |
---|---|---|
INR 48.3K-1.4 lacs |
||
INR 1.8 lacs |
||
INR 45K - 75K |
||
Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, University of Mumbai, Mumbai |
PG Diploma, BBM/BMS and M.Sc |
INR 30K - 6.8 lacs |
Amity School of Film and Drama | Bachelor's and Master's in Film Making, Visual Effects, Acting, Game Design and Development |
INR 1.7 lacs to 9.4 lacs |
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Film, TV and Animation Studies (BVBFTS), Delhi |
UG/PG Diploma, Certificate |
INR 48K to 96K |
Ramoji Academy of Film and Television, Hyderabad |
UG/PG Diploma, Certificate |
Approx. INR 3.5 lacs |
Placing Dreams Film and Television Institute, Mumbai | UG Diploma | INR 40K to 2.4 lacs |
UG/PG Diploma, Certificate |
INR 5K to 7.5 lacs |
|
Whistling Woods International Entrance Exam (WWI Entrance Exam), Maharashtra |
UG/PG Diploma, Certificate |
INR 1.5 lacs to 2 lacs |
UG Diploma, Certificate |
INR 40K to 6.1 lacs |
|
ICE Balaji Telefilms - Institute of Creative Excellence, Mumbai |
Certificate |
INR 60K to 7 lacs |
The eligibility criteria for admission to the above-mentioned schools and programmes may slightly vary. Students are advised to check the websites of the film school of their choice for the same. However, for the most part, UG-level programmes require students to have passed high school, while PG-level programmes require an undergraduate degree.
Popular Courses Offered by Film Schools in India
- MA in Film Studies
- PG Diploma in TV Direction & Script Writing
- PG Diploma in TV Production
- MSc in Film Making
- MSc in Film & TV Production
- PG Diploma in Cinematography
- MPA in Film Making
- MSc in Cinema
Also read:
Apart from these regular courses, candidates can also complete the certification courses as an add-on. Some of the most popular certification courses that candidates can take are mentioned here -
- Certificate in Digital Film Making
- Certificate in 3D Animation Film Making
- Certificate in Stereoscopic Film Making
- Certificate in Ad Film Making
- Certificate in Production
- Certificate in Advanced Direction
- Certificate in Advanced Editing
FTII JET
While some film schools give admissions based on merit, a large number conduct their own entrance tests. Out of these various entrance exams, the most popular one is the FTII JET. Conducted by FTII, Pune and SRFTI, Kolkata, the Joint Entrance Test is a national-level entrance exam. Through FTII JET, these institutes offer admissions to various postgraduate and postgraduate diploma courses to interested students. This is a 3-hour-long offline exam that tests students on their knowledge of the art & craft of Film &TV, Allied Arts, Literature, General Awareness, Environmental Awareness, General Knowledge related to Art & Culture and Media, etc.
Job Opportunities for Film School
Students who graduate from film schools can go on to assume the following roles in their professional lives.
Job Roles in the Film Industry
Director |
Motion Control Operator |
Cameraman |
Editor |
Assistant Director |
Videographer |
Cinematographer |
Assistant Production Controller |
Screenplay Writer |
Production Designer |
Camera Operator |
Actor |
Camera Production Assistant |
Camera Assistant |
Soundman/Sound recordist |
VFX Artist |
Action Choreographer |
Also read:
Scope in the Film Industry
Unlike other industries like the Textile, Food industry, Retail, Construction, Computers and information technology, and Manufacturing, the film industry doesn’t guarantee success at the start. In the rest of the industries mentioned here, candidates have a higher chance of getting placed, but in the film industry, it is all about excellent skills, good networking, and a bit of luck.
Students can develop their skills and create good networking during their stay at film schools in India. Once they get a job in the film industry, the sky is the limit for them, as there is an unlimited opportunity to grow and prosper. The scope of the film industry is very vast, and people can reach greater heights financially and professionally.
Read more:
FAQs on Film Schools in India
Q: Which is the best film institute in India?
A: The best film institute in India is the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) which is located in Pune. FTII is a public institute and is the premier film institute in India, FTII has produced some of the most popular names in the film industry like - Jaya Bachchan, David Dhawan, Shabana Azmi, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, etc.
Q: How much does film school cost in India?
A: The fees of the film school in India depend upon various parameters like the affiliation of the film school the course and the job placement opportunity. Film schools like FTII, and SRFTII which are public institutions charge a nominal fee while private institutions charge a hefty fee however, their faculty members and amenities are top level which justifies their fee. These institutions also provide on-field exposure and job opportunities.
Q: Can I join film school after 12th?
A: Yes you can join the film schools after the 12th. There are a lot of popular film schools which provide courses after 12th. Some of the most popular courses are - BA in Journalism and Mass Communication (Film Making), Bachelor in Visual Effect, BSc in cinematography, BSc in post-production, BSc in sound editing, etc. However, before enrolling in any film school, candidates are advised to check the kind of degree they will be provided, whether is it a graduation degree a diploma degree, or just a certification course.
Q: Which degree is best for filmmaking?
A: Any degree from a renowned film school is good however, if you are asking for a specific specialization then it is best to have a degree in either screenwriting, direction, editing, or cinematography as these are the core departments of any film school.
Q: Is film making easy?
A: No, filmmaking is not an easy job. Out of thousands of films released every year, only a handful of them get noticed and taste success. It is very difficult to cater to the audience's tastes and preferences as well as present the vision on a big scale. Some filmmakers successfully do it, but many of them fail to do so. So it can be said that filmmaking is a tough job, but the most important part is the exposure, the skill set they develop and one good story, one good film can turn the fortunes. So it is about working hard and translating your vision on a bigger scale.
Q: What is FTII fees?
A: Being the premier film-making school in India the fees of the Film and Television Institute of India are reasonable and range around INR 75000 to 123000 approximately for a two-year PG diploma course. There are also one-year postgraduate certification courses and the fee of the same is INR 75000 approximately. This is the tuition fee there are additional charges too like admission fees, game fees, medical fees, library fees, hostel admission, hostel rent, mess charges, electricity, and water charges. However, as it is a public institute, the charges are pretty nominal.
Q: Is film making a good career in India?
A: Yes, filmmaking is a good career option in India. Although certain parameters need to be taken care of, one is the patience level, as success in this industry is not quick and sometimes it takes years, so students need to have a lot of patience. The second is skill development. Film making as a passion requires creativity hence students need to develop skills and ensure that they can translate their vision to a broader level creatively. Last is the institute from where you complete your filmmaking course. The reputation of the film-making school also helps a lot in making a career in the film industry. Once all these things fall into place, it becomes easy to make a career in filmmaking and get success.
Q: Is FTII worth it?
A: Yes, the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is worth every dime. It is the premier and sought-after film-making school in India and for decades has produced some of the most popular names in the film industry like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, David Dhawan, etc. If candidates get selected for the FTII and complete their relevant courses, they will get an entry into the film industry and can make their way to success.
