The Indian Express Group and Screen announced on Wednesday the launch of Screen Academy, a unique not-for-profit initiative dedicated to nurturing and showcasing exciting new voices in Indian cinema.
The Academy boasts an impressive and diverse membership, including Cannes and Oscar winners like Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia, Resul Pookutty, and veteran screenwriter Anjum Rajabali. Working closely with India’s top film institutes, the Academy aims to identify and empower the next generation of filmmakers through education, representation, and recognition.
Support and Fellowship:
Established with the generous support of Founding Patron Abhishek Lodha of the Lodha Foundation, Screen Academy will annually offer postgraduate fellowships to students nominated by their film schools. These fellowships are targeted at individuals who demonstrate exceptional storytelling talent but lack the financial means to pursue formal film education.
(For application details, visit www.screenacademy.org).
Statements:
Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said:
“The film industry has an inseparable association with Mumbai. I am thrilled to learn of the inception of the not-for-profit Screen Academy by The Indian Express Group. I am certain that the Indian film industry will benefit immensely from the new filmmaking talent the academy aims to cultivate.”
Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, said:
“Screen Academy represents a bold step toward institutionalising excellence in the entertainment and culture space. We will create an ecosystem that not only celebrates excellence but actively nurtures diverse and promising talent with both financial aid and access.”
Abhishek Lodha, Founding Patron, stated:
“The Lodha Foundation is committed to supporting India's progress toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. Films and creative arts are a key strength of our nation, and the Screen Academy will play an important role in furthering India's progress to a global leader in this field. We are pleased to partner with the Screen Academy in this ambitious initiative.”
Academic Excellence and Industry Integration:
The Screen Academy Fellowships 2025 will provide full financial support for postgraduate studies at premier film institutions:
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata
Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
The Academy plans to expand its reach to more film schools across India.
Fellows will also benefit from an industry mentorship programme featuring masterclasses, internships, and ongoing guidance from top studios and respected film professionals who are Academy members.
Industry Leaders’ Comments:
Dhiraj Singh, Director, FTII:
“Screen is a very respected name in film journalism. FTII is very happy that a meaningful collaboration is taking shape. I am sure students and the industry will benefit greatly from this scholarship program.”
Samiran Dutta, Director in charge, SRFTI:
“We have talent from diverse and unknown parts of India, not only from urban metros, producing great ideas and fabulous stories. Understandably, some students struggle with the expenses of film education. The Screen Academy fellowship will help in their quest to make great cinema.”
Meghna Ghai Puri, President, Whistling Woods International:
“We believe that access to quality education can transform lives. This scholarship, in collaboration with the IE Screen Foundation, ensures that financial constraints do not come in the way of creativity and ambition. It’s a partnership rooted in shared values — excellence, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to nurturing the storytellers of tomorrow.”
Fellow Selection:
The fellowship selection panel will be headed by veteran screenwriter and film academician Anjum Rajabali:
“This hugely generous initiative offers much-needed support to young people to avail of formal education in the craft, for which the film, TV, and OTT sectors will be grateful for having access to this talent pool. These scholarships will help in driving up the quality of writing and filmmaking here.”
Screen Academy Members Include:
Guneet Monga – Oscar-winning Producer
Payal Kapadia – Cannes Grand Prix winner and Golden Globe nominee
Resul Pookutty – Oscar-winning Sound Designer
Ronnie Screwvala – Founder of RSVP Films and Upgrad
Subhash Ghai – Director/Producer and Founder of Whistling Woods International
The full list of members will be released shortly on www.screenacademy.org.
Recognition of Excellence:
Screen Academy will oversee the prestigious Screen Awards, recognizing artistic brilliance, cultural excellence, and technical innovation across Indian entertainment.
Academy members will serve as the voting body, ensuring credibility and expertise guide the recognition process.
The Academy has also established a Resident Critics Panel featuring:
Dr Priya Jaikumar (University of Southern California)
Priyanka Sinha Jha (Curator of Screen Awards)
Shubra Gupta (The Indian Express Film Critic)
Nikhil Taneja (Co-Founder of We are Yuvaa)
Anjum Rajabali (Screenwriter and Head of Screenwriting at WWI and FTII)
Priyanka Sinha Jha said:
“The Academy will grow to define rigorous criteria, categories, and evaluation standards to ensure fairness and credibility in honouring outstanding contributions to cinema, music, theatre, regional cinema, and other allied art forms.”
About Screen:
Founded in 1951, Screen is India’s first film newspaper and the home of the popular Screen Awards.
For over 80 years, it has been a credible source for Indian cinema and entertainment industry news.
Ramnath Goenka, a legendary journalist, recognized the soft power of films decades before the trade was acknowledged as an industry.
Reacquired from Disney in 2024, Screen now operates in a digital-first format, reaching 40 million users monthly in Hindi, English, Marathi, and Tamil.
In the past six months, Screen has launched video programs including Expresso, Screen Live, Dear Me, Your Weekend Watchlist, and The Suvir Saran Show.
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