Screen Academy launched to nurture India’s next-gen filmmakers

Srinagar, Jul 10: The Indian Express Group, in collaboration with Screen, has announced the launch of Screen Academy, a not-for-profit initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging talent in Indian cinema.

A statement issued here said that with support from the Lodha Foundation and backing from top industry names including Oscar and Cannes winners Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia, Resul Pookutty, and screenwriter Anjum Rajabali, the Academy will offer postgraduate fellowships to promising students from leading film schools who lack financial means.

Screen Academy will collaborate with premier institutes like the Film and Television Institute of India (Pune), Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (Kolkata), and Whistling Woods International (Mumbai). The 2025 fellowships will provide full financial support along with industry mentorship, internships, and masterclasses by top studios and professionals.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the move, calling it timely and Mumbai-relevant. Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, said the Academy aims to institutionalize excellence in storytelling. Abhishek Lodha of the Lodha Foundation called the initiative vital for boosting India’s soft power in creative arts.

Directors from FTII and SRFTI hailed the initiative as a critical step in supporting deserving talent from across the country.