Film
and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, under its Centre for Open
Learning (CFOL) initiative announces “Workshop on Basics of Documentary Filmmaking”
in Bhopal.
Following
are the details in this regard;
(1) Workshop
Name: Workshop on Basics of Documentary Filmmaking
(2) Dates: 29 May to 04 June 2026
(3) Timings:
10.30 am to 5 pm
(4) Total No. of seats: 25 (Course may not be conducted if there are less than 15 participants)
(5) Age: Participants
must be 18 years or above in age as on 01st May 2026
(6) Educational
Qualification: HSC (12th pass). In exceptional cases,
10th pass may be considered
(7) Nationality: Indian
(8) Venue: Seven Hills School, New Market,
Bhopal
(9)
Course fee: Rs 11,500/- per participant
Course
fee is excluding breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/ coffee, snacks etc.
Course
fee of selected participants will be non-refundable, non-transferrable,
non-adjustable, etc. under any circumstances. Course fee of all the non –
selected participants will be refunded within 21 working days of the course
commencement. Also, due to any other reason, if the course is cancelled by
FTII, course fee will be refunded.
However,
due to any reason, if the course is postponed OR cancelled by the organisers,
course fee will be refunded.
(10) Last
date to apply: By 6 pm, 19 May 2026.
(11) Course
Director: Rajendra Janglay and Sudeep Sohni
(12) Medium
of Instructions: English and Hindi.
(13) Selection
Criteria: First – Come – First – Served basis. Selected candidates
would be communicated by email. List of the selected participants will be
published on FTII website.
(14) Certificates: All
participants would be given participation certificate on successful completion
of the course which will carry FTII logos and will be jointly signed by FTII
Director and the Course Director. Minimum 90% attendance is mandatory to get
certificate.
(15) Queries: For
any queries contact
- Mr. Milind Joshi, Asst. Outreach Officer – 020 -
25580085, info(dot)cfol(at)ftii(dot)ac(dot)in
2.
Future
Story Cine Labs = Dhwani on 9315220724
(16) Communication
with participants: All communications with the participants will be
carried out through email only. List of shortlisted participants will be
published on FTII website and selection email will be sent to the selected
participants on their registered email.
(17) Accommodation: Outstation
participants may please note Future Story Cine Labs will facilitate for
accommodation in Bhopal. Please contact Dhwani on 9315220724 for the same.
(18) Participants
need to assure general decency, decorum etc. on the course campus. Failing to
do so will lead to cancellation of admission without refunding course fee apart
from taking internal disciplinary action and dealing the matter as per law of
the land. All rights in this regard are reserved with FTII.
(19) How
to apply:
1. Click on the following link:
2.
Fill-up the application form with requisite details and proceed for payment.
3.
Make necessary payment of Rs 11,500/-.
4.
Once payment is done, please note "SBI collect Reference Number"
(mentioned in payment confirmation receipt). This may be required for future
reference.
5. If
possible, digitally store the receipt of payment. This can be carried out in
one of the following ways;
(i)
by taking printout of receipt of payment, scan & save it
(ii)
by taking screenshot of payment (if using mobile) or print screen (if using
computer)
(iii)
by simply taking a photograph from mobile
(iv)
check your bank account to confirm whether money (course fee) has been deducted
or not
(v)
After a day or two, once again check to see whether money (course fee) has been
refunded.
(vi)
In case of refund, it is a transaction failure and if so, once again apply for
the course afresh.
6. No
document/ certificate related to educational qualification, age etc. is to be
attached. Participants’ self – declaration in the application form is
sufficient.
7. Terms
& conditions: By agreeing to the terms & conditions in the
application form, participants are confirming that they have read &
understood the website advt. They are eligible to apply and fulfill all the
requirements as stated in the advt. Also, it is presumed that participants will
be staying and or attending the course at their own risk & cost and will
not be held responsible for anything or matter of what-so-ever nature. Further,
participants agree that decision of Director, FTII regarding admission to the
course and its conduction in all respect will be final.
(20) Course Directors: Rajendra
Janglay and Sudeep Sohni
Rajendra Janglay
is an acclaimed Indian documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, widely
recognized for his extensive work on anthropology, tribal culture, and
environmental issues. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India
(1985 batch), he has had a distinguished career spanning over four decades,
during which he has created more than 200 films and received six National Film
Awards.
Janglay began his academic journey at the
Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, where he graduated in 1979 with a
specialization in still photography. He later pursued cinematography at FTII,
graduating in 1984, followed by a Post Diploma in Film Direction in 1985.
Throughout
his career, he has worked extensively with tribal communities of Madhya
Pradesh, including the Gond, Baiga, and Bhil tribes, documenting their lives,
traditions, and cultural heritage with sensitivity and depth.
His acclaimed, National Award–winning
filmography includes Buddhijeevi, Raga of River Narmada, Chanderinama,
and Madnal Ke Bol. His deep commitment to human stories and documentary
realism made him a natural collaborator with Saeed Mirza for the 16-episode
television series A Tryst with the People of India, commissioned by the
Government of India to mark the 50th anniversary of India’s Independence. This ambitious
project involved traveling over 35,000 kilometers across the country in just
four months.
Janglay also directed and shot a major
documentary project titled Highways of Prosperity (2004), commissioned
by the National Highways Authority of India. The film required extensive
cross-country travel and included a demanding 35-day aerial cinematography
schedule.
In addition to his filmmaking work, he has
contributed to institutional and cultural bodies, serving as Creative Director
(Films) at Madhya Pradesh Madhyam. He has also held prestigious positions such
as Chairperson at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI-Goa) and as a
member of the National Film Awards jury.
Sudeep Sohni is an alumnus of the Film
and Television Institute of India with the specialization in Screenplay
Writing. A pioneering voice in Central India’s independent cinema landscape,
Sudeep is multifaceted creative, works as a Writer, Director, Conceptualizer,
and Consultant across Cinema, Literature, and Culture. His work themes are
Children, Art, Culture and Life.
His
recent documentaries, Tanishka (2021-centered on an 8-year-old
Bharatanatyam exponent and Reminiscence of Gangaur (2023) a
visual exploration of a 100-year-old traditional folk festival - have
earned international release on Heritage, the OTT platform by The
Archaeology Channel (USA), makes him the first from state to gain global
distribution. Both films have featured at prestigious festivals in India,
Europe, the USA, and the West Indies. Currently, his children fiction short
‘Jaggu Aur Magahari’ is travelling to festivals. He has been accredited as a
critic and columnist for IFFI-Goa (2017–18) and the Cannes Film
Festival (2018) and regularly conducts workshops on cinema and curriculum
design at leading universities across India.
Working
outside traditional industry systems, he is a rare example of a self-driven
filmmaker who has taken stories from a small city to international platforms.
He has also served in the jury panel of Screenwriters Association (SWA) Awards
four times.
Through
his work and mentorship, he continues to champion independent storytelling,
encouraging emerging filmmakers to develop authentic voices in cinema. He
currently heads Sudeep Sohni Films in Bhopal, and Cinekari -
pursuing meaningful creation driven by instinct and vision.
(21) Course Overview
Write the Film in Your Mind
Transform ideas into
compelling screenplays
OVERVIEW
Documentary filmmaking is a powerful medium for capturing real-life stories, documenting social realities, and preserving cultural narratives. In recent years, the availability of affordable digital technology has enabled a wider range of people—students, journalists, researchers, and community practitioners—to engage in visual storytelling. However, many aspiring storytellers lack structured training in the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking.
The proposed 7–Day Intensive Workshop on Basics of Documentary Filmmaking aims to introduce participants to the essential principles and practices of documentary production. Through a combination of lectures, film screenings, practical exercises, and fieldwork, the workshop will provide participants with foundational skills in research, visual storytelling, camera operation, sound recording, interviewing, and editing.
Objectives
To introduce participants to the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking.
To develop understanding of research methods and narrative development for documentaries.
To provide practical training in camera handling, sound recording, and interview techniques.
To introduce basic editing and post-production processes.
To encourage participants to create short documentary projects based on real-life subjects.
Workshop Flow
Introduction to documentary cinema, forms and styles, screening and discussion.
Research methods, story development, and writing documentary proposals.
Visual storytelling, camera basics, and framing techniques with limited practical exercises.
Basic Sound recording, interview techniques, and ethical considerations.
Field production—participants shoot documentary footage.
Introduction to editing and structuring a narrative from footage.
Screening of participant projects, feedback session, and closing.
Participants
Students, emerging filmmakers, journalists, NGO professionals, and individuals interested in documentary storytelling (20–25 participants).
Expected Outcome
By the end of the workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of documentary filmmaking and produce a short documentary film based on their field exercise.
Conclusion
This workshop will serve as an introductory platform for aspiring documentary filmmakers, enabling them to develop technical skills and creative approaches to telling meaningful stories from real life. It will also encourage critical engagement with social and cultural issues through visual media.