AI in Cinema
After the success of the Mumbai workshop in May, FTII’s Centre for Open Learning is back with something bigger.
We are proud to announce the FTII Masterclass — Master the Art of AI in Cinema, a 10-day intensive programme that takes participants from cinema grammar all the way to a finished, individually directed AI short film. July 13 to 23, 2026. Hybrid mode — Online + Mumbai.
Official programme brochure · FTII Centre for Open Learning
This is not an introduction to AI tools. This is a structured, production-grade masterclass that treats AI filmmaking the way FTII treats filmmaking — with rigour, craft, and the full weight of cinematic tradition behind it.
Over 10 days, participants will move from theory to production to finished film. Not a group project — an individual film, your own concept, your own cut, with one-on-one instruction from two filmmakers who bring a combined 60+ years of experience across television, documentary, commercial, and AI cinema.
6 days online (theory, tools, workflow) + 4 days in-person in Mumbai (production, post, showcase).
Every participant leaves with a complete, finished AI short film — individually conceived, directed, and produced.
Organised by FTII’s Centre for Open Learning — the institutional authority in Indian cinema education.
Two full days of cinema grammar before a single frame is generated. The director’s eye comes first.
| Phase | Days | Format | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Days 1–6 | 4 hrs / day | Theory · Tools · Workflow · Pre-Production |
| Offline | Days 7–10 | Full Day | Production · Post-Production · Showcase |
Four hours per day, covering the full theoretical and pre-production foundation before participants touch a single generation tool.
Four full days in-person at Hall No. 40, Link Plaza, Andheri West, Mumbai — production, post-production, and a final showcase with structured critique.
This is not a repeat of the May workshop. It is a step up in depth, duration, and individual output. Here is what changes:
| Workshop | FTII Masterclass |
|---|---|
| Introduction to AI Filmmaking | Deep immersion — theory to finished film |
| Group short film project | Individual film — your own concept, your own cut |
| Demo-led learning | Instructor-guided production with one-on-one reviews |
| Single instructor | Two instructors — cinematography + direction |
| Tool familiarity | Professional workflow — development to delivery |
| Overview of post-production | Help in assembling the complete project |
| Certificate of participation | Showcased, screened and critiqued at the Mumbai venue |
- Complete command of cinema grammar as applied to AI filmmaking
- Understanding of how lens, light, and depth of field translate into AI prompt language
- World-building and character consistency methodology
- The complete production pipeline — development to delivery
- Writing and executing a full cinematic prompt stack
- Visual bible and pre-production documentation
- Colour grading and sound design as part of the workflow
- Directing performance and continuity through language
- One complete, finished AI short film — individually conceived, directed, and produced
- A production portfolio: visual bible, shot list, character cards, prompt archive
- Professional screening with structured critique
- Direct access to two working professionals across cinematography and direction
- A credible institutional context — FTII — on your filmmaking record
Director, producer, writer, and FTII alumnus (1987–90) with over 35 years of experience across television, documentaries, and socially conscious cinema. He directed popular shows like Kkusum, Kutumb, and Kabhi Sautan Kabhi Saheli for Balaji Telefilms, created the National Museum of Indian Cinema documentary Voice of Cinema, and directed the acclaimed film Unparalleled. He has taught at FTII, NID, and NMIMS, and leads OpenFrame AI Lab, exploring AI-driven filmmaking and creative technology.
Cinematographer and visual practitioner with over 25 years of experience across television, feature films, commercial cinematography, and industrial photography. Trained under the late Shri Dharam Chopra at B.R. Films, Mumbai. Engineering graduate with formal training in camera and lighting techniques. Currently working at the intersection of cinema and artificial intelligence, developing AI-integrated cinematic methodologies that combine traditional film grammar, lighting principles, and colour science with generative visual systems.
“Create cinematic worlds with AI in just 10 days — under the guidance of FTII and leading filmmakers.”
Online + Hall No. 40, Link Plaza
Commercial Complex, Oshiwara, Andheri West, Mumbai
For queries: info.cfol@ftii.ac.in · 020-25580085
Contact: Milindkumar Joshi, Asst. Outreach Officer
Contact: Priyansha Singh · 7766967634