GUWAHATI: In a move to tap into the rich reservoir of creative talents in Northeast, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) has unveiled an ambitious plan for a fully sponsored one-year course in 3D animation and visual effects (VFX).
The initiative, conducted in partnership with the Innovative Film Academy in Bangalore and in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), is specifically designed for 100 aspiring youths from the region.
The residential programme, spanning nine months, promises an immersive learning experience with 390 hours of theory and 630 hours of practicals.
Following this intensive training, participants will undergo a three-month internship at a professional Media and Entertainment firm, offering them real-world exposure to the industry.
Set to commence in mid-February, the window for online applications closes on January 31. Interested individuals can apply here – https://skill.nfdcindia.com/Specialproject/Registerfor3DAnimator
Successful candidates stand to gain more than just knowledge, as they will receive complimentary accommodation, meals, and a high-performance laptop valued at Rs. 1 lakh.
The laptops, equipped with either a Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7 processor and a dedicated graphics card, come complete with a one-year warranty.
With projections foreseeing a demand for at least 2 lakh skilled professionals annually in India by 2025, the MoIB remains committed to youth skill development through NFDC’s various programmes.
Notably, a similar course for 100 youth from the Northeast was successfully conducted in New Delhi in 2023, where 25 Manipuri participants secured gainful employment post-internship.
This innovative initiative aligns with the recommendations of the national AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comic) Promotion Task Force, which has called for the establishment of a National AVGC-XR (Extended Reality) Mission.
To strengthen the sector further, the task force also proposes the establishment of five regional centres of excellence (COE) alongside a national COE, aiming to set an international benchmark across skilling, education, industry development, and research and innovation.
Manipur, with its tech-savvy and creative resources, emerges as a potential regional COE, fostering local industries and talents.
Amidst a flourishing global market, where the animation and visual effects industry is expected to reach USD 290 billion by 2024, the gaming market projected to hit USD 314.4 billion by 2026, and the Comic Book market reaching USD 19.5 billion by 2028.
