The five-day long Film Appreciation Course organized by the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune (FTII) in collaboration with Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) commenced at media complex here today.The course has been organized to provide a unique opportunity to the cine lovers of state to understand cinema from one of the world’s leading film institute.The programme was inaugurated jointly by Joint Director Information Jammu Naresh Kumar in presence of, FTII representatives, senior faculty members, FTII Pune G.B Singh and Pankaj Saxena, Deputy Directors DIPR, Priyanka Bhat, Atul Gupta, Avleen Kour and Rakesh Dubey.Joint Director Information Naresh Kumar, while addressing the participants, said that DIPR in collaboration with FTII has organized this film appreciation course in Jammu to promote comprehensive understanding and insights into the nature of cinema and other related forms and practices among young professionals. He said that state’s captivating charms have always attracted filmmakers and exposure to such courses shall provide the right exposure to hone the skills of youth in the field besides giving a fillip to the tourism sector.While deliberating upon the course details, he said that the five-day introductory course shall include film history, analysis, production, fiction and non-fiction documentaries and other dimensions of filmmaking techniques. He said that the course is primarily designed to meet the needs of teachers/scholars interested in introducing film study activities in educational institutions, media practitioners, film society organizers, researchers, government officials handling films and serious cinéphiles.The curriculum includes a theoretical study of the art and history of film and the development of cinema as a medium of art and communication.
The participants will be introduced to the changing nature of film production and its evolving relationship with digital arts. Film classics, short films and non-fiction films, both Indian and International will be used for critical analysis and study.Faculty members of FTII elaborated upon the courses offered at the Institute and about the filmmaking process and said that this course shall help to ignite potential of the participants by helping them to get an insight into the varied processes involved so that they can choose it as a profession according to their interest.T hey said that FTII ’s under Skilling India in films and television ( SKIFT) has been organizing such short term programmes across the country and more such courses are in offing in the state for the interested youth to take up film industry relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.They also appreciated Director Information Muneer-ul-Islam for collaborating with FTII and extending all requisite logistic support for organizing the programme.Earlier, a two-minute silence was observed to mark tribute to Suram Singh, DIPR cameraman, who lost his life in a tragic road accident on May 05 while performing his duties.Deputy Director (AV) Nodal Officer, Rakesh Dubey presented vote of thanks and will be coordinating the five-day film appreciation course. He further said that such type of programmes would also be organised in future.Among others, the programme was attended by Assistant Director Shabnam Jaipuria, Field Publicity Officer Priya Lakshmi, Information Officer Muzamil Zaman, President Press club Jammu Ashwini Kumar, Deputy Director Doordarshan Sanjit Khajuria and veteran FTII alumni Ramesh Handoo.