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Netflix, IICT announce scholarships for 100 students and professionals across six creative programmes

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and Netflix have announced scholarships for 100 students and working professionals across India, covering up to 80% of course fees for six programmes in animation, visual effects, gaming and comics. The initiative is part of the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative, launched earlier this month after Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his India visit. The programme seeks to strengthen India’s creative talent pipeline by providing industry-oriented training across the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) ecosystem. The scholarships will cover two one-year diploma programmes — Interactive Comics & Sequential Arts and Visual Effects Mastery — along with four six-month certificate courses in Virtual Art Department Content Creation, Media Tech Workflow, Art of Character Animation, and E-Sports & Gaming Management. Supported by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, the scholarships are available to both students and working professionals from across the country. Netflix is also involved in shaping the academic content of the programmes. The company has contributed to the curriculum for IICT’s Visual Effects Mastery and Media Tech Workflow courses, with an emphasis on current industry workflows, technologies and professional practices. The partnership is aimed at strengthening the connection between India’s expanding creative talent pool and the evolving requirements of the global AVGC-XR industry. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Chairman of the IICT Board, said the collaboration would bring industry expertise into academic training and help prepare professionals for the changing global creative sector. Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India, said the initiative would provide aspiring storytellers with access to specialised training in animation, visual effects, gaming and comics, while exposing them to industry expertise. Dr Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, said the partnership would help incorporate industry perspectives into curriculum development, professional workflows and the skills expected from students. The initiative has also received support from the broader AVGC-XR industry. Munjal Shroff, Chairman of the FICCI AVGC-XR Forum and Co-Founder and COO of Graphiti Studios, said industry-linked talent development would be important for India’s ambitions in the AVGC-XR sector. IICT is India’s national centre of excellence for the AVGC-XR sector and was established by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, FICCI and CII. The institute currently operates from the NFDC Complex on Pedder Road in Mumbai, while its permanent 10-acre campus is being developed at Film City, Goregaon. The 100 scholarships across six specialised programmes are intended to combine financial support with practical, industry-focused education, creating new opportunities for talent entering India’s animation, VFX, gaming, comics and emerging creative technology sectors.  

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Netflix marks 10 years in India; CEO Ted Sarandos meets PM Modi, launches storytelling initiative

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday as the streaming giant celebrated a decade of operations in India and announced the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative, a long-term investment aimed at developing the country’s creative talent ecosystem. The multi-phase initiative seeks to strengthen India’s pipeline of creators in animation, visual effects (VFX), gaming and comics, building on Netflix’s collaboration with the Indian creative industry over the past 10 years. During this period, the platform has produced more than 200 original titles and filmed across 100+ locations in the country. According to Netflix, the initiative aligns with the government’s Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision by enhancing skill development, industry partnerships and creator training to position India as a global storytelling hub. As part of the first phase, Netflix will collaborate with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to jointly develop specialised courses in Visual Effects Mastery and Media Technology Workflows. The company will also sponsor 100 scholarships for Indian students enrolled in IICT’s in-person programmes, covering areas such as interactive comics, sequential art, virtual production, character animation, and e-sports and gaming management. In another key partnership, Netflix has joined hands with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to train audio description writers and voice artists, making films and series more accessible to audiences with visual and hearing impairments while adhering to international accessibility standards. Sarandos said India has long been one of the world’s richest storytelling nations and reaffirmed Netflix’s commitment to investing in the next generation of Indian creators. He added that strengthening the country’s creative ecosystem would create more opportunities for emerging talent while taking Indian stories to global audiences. The visit also commemorated Netflix’s 10-year journey in India through an event organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism. During the event, the Ministry of Tourism and Netflix India launched “As Seen on Netflix,” a dedicated section on the Incredible India website that allows viewers to explore real-life locations, cultural traditions and experiences featured in Netflix productions. Sarandos also participated in a fireside discussion with Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the National Gallery of Modern Art, where they highlighted the role of authentic storytelling in promoting tourism, preserving cultural heritage and supporting India’s creative economy. The event also showcased two new promotional films celebrating India’s wildlife and cultural heritage. The collaboration builds upon a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Netflix India last year to promote India’s tourism and cultural diplomacy through storytelling. Highlighting its decade-long journey in India, Netflix cited acclaimed productions such as The Elephant Whisperers, Amar Singh Chamkila, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Musafir Café, Made in Korea and the upcoming patriotic series Operation Safed Sagar as examples of Indian stories resonating with audiences worldwide. As Netflix enters its second decade in India, the company said it will continue investing in India’s creative workforce while helping more local stories reach international audiences. Source: Variety

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Netflix joins hands with IICT and FICCI to nurture India’s next-gen creative tech talent

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community
ardorcomm news

Streaming leader Netflix has entered into a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) and FICCI to build and strengthen the pipeline of creative-technology professionals in India. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during the 25th edition of FICCI Frames, marking a major step toward advancing India’s AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) ecosystem. Under this collaboration, Netflix will utilize its Fund for Creative Equity to provide scholarships to selected students identified jointly with IICT. The fund aims to empower underrepresented talent in the media and entertainment industry by offering equitable learning and career opportunities. As part of the initiative, Netflix will actively participate in three of IICT’s national councils — R&D, Academic, and Industry Development — to foster synergy between academia, industry experts, and policymakers in shaping the future of India’s creative technology sector. Mahima Kaul, Director of Global Affairs, Netflix India, said the partnership is designed to strengthen the country’s AVGC sector and empower young creators. “Through this collaboration, we aim to equip aspiring storytellers and innovators with world-class tools and opportunities to fuel creativity and drive India’s digital entertainment economy,” she said. Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, emphasized that the alliance bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world industry experience. “By offering mentorship, practical exposure, and access to global best practices, we are preparing the next generation of creative technologists to thrive in the evolving AVGC-XR landscape,” he noted. Munjal Shroff, Chairman of the FICCI AVGC-XR Forum, added that the initiative will position India as a global hub for creative technologies. “This partnership not only builds future-ready talent but also fuels innovation and lays the foundation for sustainable growth in the sector,” he said. Source: PTI

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WaveX Expands with Seven New Incubation Centers for Media, Entertainment & AVGC-XR Startups

/ Media Entertainment & Art Community

WaveX, the startup accelerator platform under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES program, has unveiled seven new incubation centers across India, strengthening its commitment to nurturing startups in Media, Entertainment, and the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) ecosystem. This expansion builds on the flagship incubator at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, marking India’s first dedicated nationwide incubation-cum-acceleration initiative tailored for this sector. New Incubation Hubs The fresh incubation centers will be hosted at: Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi IIMC, Jammu IIMC, Dhenkanal (Odisha) IIMC, Kottayam (Kerala) IIMC, Amravati (Maharashtra) Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata With this network, startups will have access to cutting-edge facilities for film production, game design, editing, and immersive content creation. IICT Mumbai already boasts world-class infrastructure, including an 8K Red Raptor Vista Vision camera, Dolby Atmos-enabled 4K HDR preview theatre, high-performance Alienware workstations, LED-wall-based virtual production stages, photogrammetry systems, sound and color-mix studios, 4K HDR editing suites, VR testing kits, and next-gen gaming consoles. Comprehensive Startup Support WaveX incubatees will benefit from: Co-working zones, digital/AV labs, and professional studios High-speed connectivity, hosting servers, AI compute services, and cloud credits (AWS/Google) Sandbox testing across OTT, gaming, VFX, animation, and immersive media Expert mentorship, global masterclasses, and curated investor-connect sessions Partnerships with IITs, T-Hub, and other incubators for cross-learning opportunities Additionally, selected startups may collaborate with I&B Ministry media wings such as Doordarshan, AIR, FTII, PIB, Publications Division, New Media Wing, and EMCC, with the possibility of receiving priority in outsourced projects. Application Details Batch Size: 15 startups per center Fee: ₹8,500 + GST per month Eligibility: Media, entertainment, and AVGC-XR startups preferred How to Apply: Submit applications at wavex.wavesbazaar.com under the “Apply for Incubation” option. Source: PIB

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Indian Media and Entertainment Sector Set to Reach ₹3.08 Trillion by 2026, Despite Slower Growth in 2023

/ Blogs
Blog on MEA

The Indian media and entertainment sector, valued at ₹2.3 trillion in 2023, is poised for significant growth in the coming years, according to the annual media and entertainment (M&E) report by Ficci and consulting firm EY. Despite facing challenges such as a slowdown in advertising during the first half of 2023, the sector is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% to reach ₹3.08 trillion by 2026. In 2023, the sector witnessed a growth of ₹17,300 crore, which was significantly lower than the ₹37,100 crore growth recorded in 2022. This slowdown was primarily attributed to headwinds in advertising. However, except for television, all segments of the M&E sector experienced growth. New media, including digital and online gaming, emerged as the fastest-growing segment, contributing ₹12,200 crore to the total growth. As a result, the contribution of new media to the M&E sector increased from 20% in 2019 to 38% in 2023. The M&E sector is projected to grow by 10.2% in 2024, with various segments reaching significant milestones. Television, digital media, filmed entertainment, and animation and VFX are estimated to touch ₹71,800 crore, ₹75,100 crore, ₹20,700 crore, and ₹13,200 crore, respectively. At the Ficci Frames event held in Mumbai, the report highlighted specific trends in different segments. Television advertising experienced a decline of 6.5% due to reduced spending by gaming and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. However, subscription revenue saw growth after three years of decline, driven by price increases. Print media continued to thrive, with advertising revenues growing by 4% in 2023. Subscription revenues also saw a 3% increase, indicating the resilience of print as a medium for affluent and non-metro audiences. Digital advertising grew by 15% to reach ₹57,600 crore, representing 51% of total advertising revenues. However, digital subscription growth slowed to 9%, as premium cricket properties such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) became available for free. The online gaming segment witnessed a growth slowdown to 22% in 2023, reaching ₹22,000 crore. Real money gaming accounted for 83% of segment revenues, with over 90 million gamers paying to play. The film segment grew by 14% to reach ₹19,700 crore, with theatrical revenues reaching an all-time high of ₹12,000 crore. However, the rise in box office was mainly due to increasing ticket prices, as footfalls remained below pre-pandemic levels. Animation and VFX experienced a modest growth of 6% in 2023, impacted by global supply chain disruptions. Potential mergers and falling ad revenues also affected the production of animated content for broadcast in India. Despite the challenges, industry experts remain optimistic about the future of the Indian M&E sector, emphasizing the enduring appeal of traditional media alongside the rapid growth of digital platforms. With evolving consumer preferences and technological advancements, the sector is poised for continued expansion in the years to come.

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