National award winning film critic to take a session at IIMA

With the rise in the number of films being screened at film festivals across the world, students of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad will get to interact with national award winning film critic Meenakshi Shedde on Thursday at their iconic campus.

Shedde, India/South Asia Consultant to Berlin and Dubai Film Festivals, will be talking on 'Role of Film festivals in the journey of a film from script to screen' as part of a course on 'Contemporary Film Industry – a business perspective'.

IIMA was the first business school in Asia to introduce a comprehensive elective course on movie industry. The course is completing 10 years this year and more than 700 students have opted for it.

"An understanding of the film industry gives students a wholesome perspective and learning on topics such as project management (delivering a Rs 50 crore film is equivalent to building a medium scale factory, getting the output and marketing it in 12 - 18 months), dynamics of working with diverse teams, and delivering results," the course's instructor, Prof Kandaswamy Bharathan said.

He said that in last 4-5 years, many large studios and production houses have started hiring MBAs. "I am also seeing many lateral placements happening particularly between FMCG sector, advertising and film industry, and most of the roles are in marketing and international distribution," he added.

FIRST IN BUSINESS

• IIMA was the first business school in Asia to introduce a elective course on movie industry. The course is completing 10 years this year and more than 700 students have opted for it.