Institute of Moving images - the Film School
Admissions open for fulltime Advanced Diploma & Diploma courses. Last date for Registration: 15th Apr, 2024 
FAQs



We are frequently asked the following questions, the answers to which will provide you with additional information about our film school. However, if you have any further queries regarding our programs or admission process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Questions:
All the programs at IMI are designed to prepare the next generation of talent for specific careers in the most exciting and creative industry in the world. That is why every student at IMI graduates with a demo reel - the ultimate calling cards. As well, all IMI grads acquire the proper certification in accord with industry expectations. To get a better sense of what can be accomplished with IMI education, click at student films page which showcases many of these outstanding demos.
To be eligible for the admission in any course at IMI, graduation degree is preferred but not compulsory. IMI admission policy recognizes that there will be some outstanding applicants with backgrounds in other disciplines and work experience including those without standard graduation degree. Applicants merit and creative potential are evaluated on the basis of their creative profile and response to aptitude test questions listed in Admission Requirements Page. If you have the ability and fit our minimum entry requirements, then apply.
To be considered for admission to any of IMI Advanced Diploma / Diploma courses, Online Registration is mandatory. Students come from all over India and Asians countries to attend IMI Programs, so seats fill up quickly. To avoid disappointment, applicants are advised to first Register Online and then physically courier their application, quoting their Registration Number on it. This helps applicants to get enough time to prepare their creative profile and arrange other supporting attachments which they are required to submit along with their Application Form.
We actively support applicants who have a passion for cinema or television. We believe that filmmaking talent shows itself in many different ways, so we would be interested in you if you have a passion for films and have a background or portfolio of work in theatre or journalism or still photography or graphic design or other creative discipline. This will help us in assessing your application why you are ideally suited for IMI course.
You must submit the completed Application Form along with the supporting attachments. To be considered for admission to any of IMI Advanced Diploma / Diploma courses, please submit the followings:
  • Fully completed Application for Admission
  • Two passport size photos
  • Copy of College Degree / School Certificate
  • Respond to aptitude test questions listed on the Application Form
  • A sample of your creative profile
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A Photocopy of transaction slip for payment of Registration Fees of Rs.2500/-(non-refundable) through IMI online Payment Gateways or NEFT
For more detailed information about admission requirements, please visit our Admissions Requirements page.
The courses at IMI are intensive programs based around theory, practical exercises, hands-on filmmaking and industry internship. Whether you enroll in our Advanced Diploma or Diploma courses, here students learn filmmaking by doing practical from day one. Each student is trained in the central filmmaking skills- script writing, directing, producing, cameras, editing, sound and production design on professional equipment. Moreover during the Advanced Diploma course, each student makes at least 12 films in Key role (Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor) and also works as a crew member in 30 others film in supporting roles, whereas in Diploma course, students independently make 8 short films/documentaries and crew in 20 other films in supporting roles.
Most Advacned Diploma students join our course with a clear vision in their mind: they will be director, script writer, producer, director of photography, editor etc. During the first semester, all students are introduced to each element of cinema through filmmaking foundation program with an integrated approach which fuses theoretical concepts with direct production results. And then, from second semester onward, they move on to mastering their chosen craft through a series of increasingly sophisticated and ambitious film projects as classroom exercise. By the end of three semester, we give you serious practical knowledge of what you can expect from different people working on your films and develop your skill in the area of your specialization.
Advanced Diploma students may apply to change their specialization at the end of the first semester and Diploma course students can opt for Advanced Diploma program at the end of first term. Approval for transfer is based on academic performance and the availability of seats.
As an integrated part of our curriculum, in addition to a regular classroom interactive session with noted filmmakers and celebrity technicians, Advanced Diploma students are required to complete a 3 months internship and Diploma students 2 months internship program designed to endow them with real world skills, experience within the industry, team work, business and industry etiquette which are essential commodities for the upcoming filmmakers of tomorrow.
Every month, IMI conducts 2 months of weekend (Saturdays & Sundays, 3pm to 8pm) Short-term Certificate Program in Filmmaking Foundation at its campus in Pune, as well as in other parts of the country in collaboration with various colleges & Universities. These courses are most popular among students & working professionals who are desirous of building a portfolio career alongside existing profession / studies by making short films in own free time or want to test self aptitude before exploring opportunity in any particular role in filmmaking process.
If you want to enroll for two months of weekend, evening classes, you do not need to submit any application form physically for IMI short-term Filmmaking Foundation program. Neither any documents nor any registration fees required. You should directly Register Online for short course. Upon receipt of an email of Admission Notification from our office on approval of your application, you can pay your course fee through IMI online Payment Gateways or NEFT.
The IMI provides all the necessary equipments to make curriculum exercise or final films to all our student of Advanced Diploma and Diploma Programs. However, students who get enrolled in 2 months, weekend sessions of Filmmaking Foundation Certificate Program will be provided with professional camera & editing equipments for hands-on classroom practical only. Students are advised to make their exercise films without incurring any additional expenses and encouraged to pool in their resources to arrange any production needs for their projects. On completion of the program, all students are expected to produce their final film with their own resources and for that; all necessary equipments can be availed from IMI facilities at concession rates.
One important and distinctive factor in our tuition structure is that there are no financial surprises. All the basic materials you require to complete your education are included in the annual fees of Advanced Diploma and Diploma Programs, which include the cost of tuition, workshops, practical demonstrations, classroom exercises, study materials, membership to film/text library, computer and internet access.

The fees for the Advanced Diploma & Diploma Programs also include available equipment & post production facilities at the campus, you will require for all the films which you will make as a part of all your curriculum and as well as your final Advanced Diploma/Diploma film.

If, any student need an additional requirement other than equipment provided by the institute for their final film, all costs incurred towards the hiring of such equipment, should be borne by them. Students are advised to pool in their resources to arrange such additional production needs as well as other technical necessities for their final projects.
IMI is characterized by its intimate environment, accepting a maximum of 75 students in its 18 months-long Advanced Diploma program. For each intake, we accept up to 15 students in each specialization- Direction, Screen Writing, Producing, Cinematography, Editing and maximum 15 students each in One Year Diploma courses i.e., Filmmaking & Documentary and up to 20 students in short-term Filmmaking Foundation Certificate Program. This lends a particular intimacy to the educational and filmmaking experience, promoting work relations with teachers and students and affording easy access to film-making facilities and red-tape free working environment.
IMI is an autonomous centre for Film Studies, managed by a non-profit Moving Images Educational Trust, recognized by Government under Public Trust Act, 1950. IMI is also member of elite film industry body- the Association of Film Producers & Television Program Producer, Mumbai, India. We are authorised to issue Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Certificate to all students who successfully complete our courses. IMI Advacned Diploma, Diploma & Certificates are duly recognized by Film & Television industry.

Recently, we have been invited by National Skills Development Corporation to become its affiliated training partner for Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to develop Media & Entertainment Skills for the Industry.

But the fact remains that no one was ever hired in the film industry on the basis of mere paper qualification. This is our faculty of high profile, working film professionals from the film industry who teach students how to succeed in this competitive field since they know better how the film industry works. Success in film industry is a matter of right skills, attitude & confidence - this is what IMI provides to its students. On the strength of the IMI certificate and show-reel of their final film, many of our alumni are gainfully employed in prestigious Production houses like Phantom Films, Reliance Media Works, Percept Picture Company, UTV, Balaji Telefilms, BR Films, Rajshri Productions, Big Animations, Pixion, Lintas Advertising, Red Ice Productions & TV channels like ZEE TV, NDTV, TV 18, Times Television and some joined as Assistant Directors with film maker like Anurag Kashyap, Kabir Khan, Suraj Barjatiya, Rahul Dholakia and Sujoy Ghosh.
Can foreign students enroll in your course?"> International students are welcome to enroll in our courses. Please contact your local Indian embassy for details on applying for student visas, as this varies among countries.
For Advanced Diploma & Diploma courses, deadlines are usually around one month before the commencement of the course and for Foundation Certificate Program in Filmmaking, it is usually two days before the announced date. Check the Admissions page for the next deadlines.
The short term IMI Filmmaking Foundation Programs are conducting every month. However, the long programs at IMI start thrice a year, after every four months i.e., in January, May & September. With rolling start dates, you have more control of when to start your education, and at the same time IMI is capable of reacting quickly to changes in the industry with ongoing adjustments in curriculum.
Upon receipt of your complete application form, within 3 days from the designated application deadline, you will be notified for an interview with the head of studies at IMI Campus in Pune. Thereafter, within 24 hours of interview, successful applicants will be intimated by email/telephone. On receiving the formal Acceptance Notification & Enrollment Form from the IMI, you should sign the enrollment form and submit it back with the non-refundable admission fees, within 7 working days to confirm your admission.
Yes, if you live in India, you will be expected to attend an interview at IMI campus in Pune when your application is being considered. Applicants living abroad and who cannot visit the school will be required to take part in a telephone interview.
Yes, due to the limited number of seats available, we can not give admission to many eligible students. We advise them to use the time between admissions constructively to develop their skill through study or work and to re apply for the course of their choice.
Almost every student of IMI lives in self arranged accommodation. We certainly help outstation students to locate accommodation at a reasonable rent. Generally, decent twin sharing basis accommodations are available around Deccan area @ Rs. 3000/- to Rs.3500/-pm per person. On this site, you can also visit our password protected webpage Accommodation especially dedicated to IMI students only, where you can post the requirement or view the availability of accommodation, you wish to share with your classmate.
Yes, on nominal payment all students can avail transport facility to drop them back home in the night after the classes or screening sessions at the Institute.
Yes, Scholarships are offered in the second semester to Advanced Diploma students, after assessment of their performance and demonstrated aptitude in the first semester. Students may be eligible for a tuition fee reduction up to 50%.
Personal loans from HDFC Bank are available to Indian applicants for full-time Advanced Diploma & Diploma courses of Institute of Moving Images. Applicants must be offered a seat by the IMI before they can apply for a loan.
The Institute of Moving Images has a database of graduates who are very willing to talk to prospective students and offer advice. If you would like to talk to IMI alumni, please email us to give their contact numbers. In addition, you can also read testimonials by our students available on this website.
The industry is fairly receptive to fresher who are trained. Fresh graduates are normally absorbed by the industry as assistants on a freelance or assignment basis. Though graduates can take up independent opportunities, a few years of experience under a professional proves to be beneficial.
There is no definite figure that a fresher can command; everything depends on the kind and size of the project you are working on. In the technical field your first pay cheque can be in initial five digit one. The money you get really depends on your talent and varies even among students of the same class. However, once you have carved a niche for yourself, the sky is the limit.
IMI has already established its credibility with industry professionals. The films produced by our students are as good and in some respects better than many of the more high profile film schools in India. IMI advisors help students and alumni navigate through the entertainment industry and work to prepare them for contact with potential employers, familiarize them with the realities of the business and assist in securing that all important first project, assignment or job. We are regularly approached by big production houses to send them our trained students for recruitment in their films and television serials.

We also have a dedicated Job board on this website wherein industry jobs are regularly posted by reputed production houses for paid and unpaid work which our students and alumni can search for themselves.

Many of Institute of Moving Images students and graduates have secured jobs and internships with filmmakers, film and television studios, independent production houses and post-production facilities, such as: *Phantom Films *Reliance Media Works *Yashraj Films *Balaji Telefilm *Percept Pictures Company * Rajshri Productions *ZEE TV *NDTV *TV 18 *UTV *Filmaka *Lintas Advertising * Red Ice Production *Nagesh Kuknoor Films *Sujoy Ghosh Production *Kabir Khan Films *Rajat Dholakia Productions *360 Degree Entertainment *Times Now *News24 *Pixion Ltd. *Prime Focus
It is true; a FAQ is just a FAQ. That's why we have friendliest counselor, ready to answer all your questions and guide you. If you have any further queries regarding our programs, admission process or about your specific situation, we encourage you to email our counselor.
Students at IMI
One of the most fascinating and exciting experiences of my life. I totally enjoyed each day of the IMI Filmmaking program. This course gave me exactly what I have been dreaming of knowledge, experience and courage to make my own film. It takes you on a journey of self-discovery, shows you, arms you and most importantly enhances your spirit. IMI faculty totally demystifies the entire filmmaking process. They inspire with their methodical, easy to understand, sharing of knowledge and encourage you to confidently go out and make films. Well worth the money spent.
Harsheet Thukral,
Painter & Filmmaker
Watch Students Films