FTII refuses to sponsor students for film festival

PUNE: The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) administration on Wednesday said it would not pay for the conveyance and accommodation of its students who have enrolled for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa this year.
Sources in the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) said the decision has been taken to control the number of FTII students at the IFFI venue after they had announced to take their protest there.IFFI will be inaugurated on November 20.
A source in the FTII administration said the students are taken by bus to IFFI every year. The administration also reimburses the students' stay in Goa.
In another development, the directorate of film festivals has decided not to screen films made by FTII students at this year's IFFI. However, three films of former students will be screened in the Indian panorama section. IFFI director C Senthil Rajan was not available for comment.
Interestingly, the FTII administration has prepared a list of 20-25 students, mainly from the screenplay and acting departments, who could be considered for a visit to IFFI. An administration source said, "This does not make sense at all. The list includes names of students who have attended the festival earlier."
A peeved film diploma student said, "The FTII director's decision is ad hoc. It comes at a time when students have already enrolled for IFFI. He had issued bona fide certificates to 40 students for registration for IFFI some days ago. The director has now brought out a rule formulated by the governing council in 1986 which says a student can attend these film festivals only once during their course. Our films were also not sent to IFFI. The government cannot have double standards and tighten the noose on us."
Sources in the FTII administration admitted that the director's decision was contradictory. "A rule made in 1986 is redundant today. In tandem with other film schools in the world, the previous governing councils and directors had decided to send students for film festivals if they have time after their work is completed. Film festivals are an important exposure for these students," they said.
The administration has reportedly decided to also keep faculty members away from the film festival. It has zeroed in on just three faculty members, who are not directly related to academics at the FTII, to be sent to IFFI.
FTII director Prashant Pathrabe did not take calls.
FTII students returned to classes after a nearly five-month strike. They have, however, kept their protest on.