India’s creative education and entertainment market received a significant boost with the launch of Screen Academy, a not-for-profit initiative by The Indian Express Group in partnership with the Lodha Foundation. Designed to identify and support the next generation of filmmakers, the Academy will provide fully funded postgraduate fellowships to students from premier institutions like FTII, SRFTI, and Whistling Woods International.
The talent pipeline is further strengthened with industry-backed mentorship by renowned figures such as Guneet Monga, Payal Kapadia, Resul Pookutty, and Ronnie Screwvala. The Academy also brings renewed focus to the prestigious Screen Awards, establishing rigorous standards through a new Resident Critics Panel.
This initiative is expected to unlock new pathways for aspiring filmmakers in Bihar’s capital. With growing interest in visual storytelling, regional content, and OTT platforms, creative minds in Patna are well-positioned to benefit from such national platforms, potentially drawing increased investment in local content creation. With over 40 million digital users across four languages, Screen is repositioning itself as a powerhouse in entertainment journalism and education, catalyzing long-term growth in India’s creative and cultural industries. Application details are available at www.screenacademy.org.
