Basic Course on Documentary Film Appreciation ( 10-14 February 2026) - Online

Online Course – Basic Course on Documentary Film Appreciation from 10-14 February 2026

 

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, under its ‘Centre for Open Learning (CFOL)‘ initiative, announces Online Course – Basic Course on Documentary Film Appreciation.

Following are the details in this regard;

  1. Name of the online Course: Basic Course on Documentary Film Appreciation
  2. Dates: 10 – 14 February 2026 (05 days)
  3. Timings:10.30 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm (Indian Standard Time – IST), 04 hrs per day
  4. No. of seats available: 40 (Course will be conducted only if min. strength of 32 is reached)
  5. Age:18 years & above as on 01st February 2026
  6. Educational Qualification: HSC (12th pass). In exceptional cases, 10th pass may be considered
  7. Online Platform: Google Classroom & Google Meet platform
  8. Medium of Instructions: English & Hindi
  9. Per Participant Course fee:
  1. For Indian Nationals: Rs 3,900/-
  2. For Foreigners including NRI, OCI etc. and also those Indian Nationals who are presently staying outside India: Rs 11,700/-

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 returned within 21 working days of the course commencement.

  1. Mode of payment: Online through SBI Collect (along with application form).
  2. Due date & time to submit application: 30th December 2026, 6 pm IST. Application submitted after due date & time will not be considered.
  3. Selection Criteria: On First – Come – First – Served Basis. List of selected participants will be published on our website and selection emails will also be sent to all the selected participants.
  4. Online platform: FTII will be using “Google Classroom” and participants are requested to get familiarized with the same. Steps to join online class including login id & password will be shared with each selected participant in the selection email.
  5. Computer literacy: It is the participant’s responsibility to be technologically capable to take an online course. Participants must be computer literate.
  6. MANDATORY REQUIREMENT:

Since the course is online, participants must have following facilities;

(i) A Desktop / Laptop having minimum 4 GB RAM, 1.6 GHz or better processor (Intel i3 or i5 or better).  (Windows / MAC)

(ii) Operating system: a) Windows 7 or 8 or 10. b) MAC OS Sierra or later

(iii) Audio – Video software: Latest versions of VLC player, Windows Media Player or Quick Time Player.

(iv) Compatible good quality headphones/ earphones with mic

(v) Compatible HD webcam

(vi) Internet pack of minimum 5 GB per day exclusively for this course. It is recommended to have fixed wired Internet connection with minimum speed of 10 Mbps or more.

(vii) Web browser: Latest version of Google Chrome (Preferred), Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari.

Use of Mobile Phone (in place of Laptop or Desktop Computer) to attend the classes is strictly prohibited. Such participants will not be allowed to join the classes.

  1. Course Director: Ganga Mukhi

A filmmaker and educationist, Ganga Mukhi brings over two decades of experience in shaping young voices in film direction and screenwriting. An alumna of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, she has taught film direction at FTII and Whistling Woods International, and has conducted filmmaking workshops at colleges and institutions across Mumbai and Kochi.

Her short films at the Institute have been invited to prestigious festivals including the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Munich International Students’ Film Festival  and the Panorama Section, International Film Festival of India, among others. She has also collaborated on international film education programmes for young people with the Cinémathèque Française, Paris.

Ganga Mukhi has served as a jury member for several  documentary film festivals. Currently, she is developing a feature-length documentary while continuing to foster online dialogue on film appreciation. Her training in Educational Leadership at the University of West Georgia, USA, bridges her twin commitments to pedagogy and cinema.

  1. How to apply:

1. Click open the link - https://www.onlinesbi.sbi/sbicollect/icollecthome.htm OR visit www.onlinesbi.sbi and further click on “SB Collect” which is at the top left, vertically 06th from left to right.

2. Search/Find FTII Fees Account in Educational institutions name and click submit.

3. In the payment category select “B5 Basic Course on Docu Film Appreciation (Online)”.

4. Fill-up the application form with requisite details and proceed for payment.

5. Make necessary payment of Rs 3,900/- OR Rs 11,700/- as the case may be.

6. Once payment is done, please note "SBcollect Reference Number" (mentioned in payment confirmation receipt). This may be required for future reference. 

7. 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 printscreen (if using computer)

(iii) by simply taking a photograph from mobile

10. No document/ certificate related to educational qualification, age etc. is to be attached. Participants’ self – declaration in the application form is sufficient.

8. 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 fulfil all the requirements as stated in the advertisement.

            Further, participants agree that decision of FTII Director regarding admission to the course and its conduction in all respect will be final.

  1. 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 id
  2. Certificates: All participants would be given participation e-certificates on successful completion of the course. Minimum 90% attendance is mandatory.
  3. Queries: For any queries please contact Mr. Milindkumar Joshi, Assistant Outreach Officer, FTII, on info.cfol@ftii.ac.in OR call on 020 – 2558 0085

 

Course Overview

Documentary films were once difficult to fund and exhibit, and were often seen as a niche form. Over time, they have become one of the most powerful and widely viewed kinds of cinema, appearing alongside major fiction films on platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and MUBI.

 

This course is designed as a beginner-level documentary film appreciation course. It is meant for anyone who is curious about  documentaries and wishes to understand them more deeply—as ways of engaging with reality and as works of cinema . The course is especially suited to students and general viewers and does not require any prior filmmaking experience.

Through guided viewing, discussion, and examples from world cinema and India, the course introduces learners to the history of documentary films, major styles and approaches, important ethical debates, and the work of key filmmakers. Basic filmmaking devices such as camera, editing, sound, and music are introduced  to help viewers appreciate how meaning is created in documentary films.

 

Course Syllabus

A brief history of documentary cinema

Major documentary approaches and styles, with key films and filmmakers

Ethical questions central to documentary practice

Documentary film analysis with examples from landmark documentary filmmakers

Understanding basic filmmaking tools for better film appreciation

 

Topics to be covered

 

1. Understanding Documentary: The Beginnings and the onward Journey

2. Different modes of Documentary and their styles

3. Ethical Concerns in the practice of Documentary film making

4. Documentary Film Appreciation: The Masters ( Detailed analysis of some examples)