Jharkhand signs MoU with SRFTI to establish Film and Television Institute
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, July 22: The Jharkhand government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Satyajit Ray…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, July 22: The Jharkhand government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, to establish the Jharkhand Film and Television Institute (JFTI), a move aimed at strengthening skill development in filmmaking and media studies.
The agreement was signed between the Jharkhand Film Development Corporation Limited (JFDCL) and SRFTI in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren at the Jharkhand Mantralaya.
The proposed institute will provide technical training to students interested in cinema, mass communication and digital media. In its initial phase, JFTI will introduce short-term courses in sound design, film editing, animation, script and screenplay writing, cinematography, direction and film production before expanding into a full-fledged institute.
Officials said the courses are intended to prepare students for careers in the film industry as well as emerging sectors such as OTT platforms and digital content creation.
Addressing the gathering, Soren said the collaboration with SRFTI marked the beginning of a new phase for Jharkhand’s creative sector.
“The partnership will provide aspiring filmmakers and artists from the State access to modern technology, professional training and industry exposure,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the rapid growth of digital platforms had created new opportunities for young people beyond conventional cinema. Besides actors and filmmakers, the industry requires professionals in editing, cinematography, sound, animation, production and other technical fields, he added.
Untapped filmmaking potential
Soren said Jharkhand has significant potential as a filmmaking destination and possesses a large pool of creative talent.
Referring to the recent National Award received by the Santhali film Aangan, he said the achievement reflected the capabilities of local filmmakers and underscored the need for institutional support and professional training.
He also noted that several films, including Dil Bechara, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and Gangs of Wasseypur, were shot in Jharkhand, highlighting the State’s growing appeal as a filming location.
The Chief Minister said careers in creative industries were expanding rapidly and that the proposed institute would help young people acquire skills relevant to the evolving media landscape.
SRFTI to provide academic support
Soren described SRFTI as one of the country’s premier film institutes and said its expertise would help shape the academic framework of the Jharkhand Film and Television Institute.
He expressed hope that the collaboration would enable talented artists from the State to receive professional training and wider recognition.
Quoting tribal scholar Dr. Ramdayal Munda’s well-known saying, “Je Nachi Se Bachi” (“He who dances survives”), the Chief Minister said artistic talent is deeply embedded in Jharkhand’s cultural traditions and needs institutional encouragement.
Filmmakers honoured
The Chief Minister felicitated several filmmakers during the event, including National Award-winning filmmaker Biju Toppo, Raviraj Murmu, who recently won a National Film Award for the Santhali short film Aangan, Anuj Kumar, recipient of the Canadian Labour International Film Festival Award for Belonging to Untouchable God and The Turtle Story, and Niranjan Kujur, National Film Award winner for the Kudukh-language film Edpa Kana.
Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore, Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Information and Public Relations Department Special Secretary Rajiv Lochan Bakshi, SRFTI Director Samiran Datta, Dean Sukante Majumdar, academicians and representatives from universities across the State attended the ceremony.
