Three decades.
One craft.
From a small studio in Valasaravakkam to 6,500 alumni working across film, OTT and advertising — this is the story of SIIFT.
Srithar.S
& Vijaya Shanthi.S
In 1994, two working media professionals opened a single studio in Chennai with one belief: that great filmmaking can be taught. They built the institute's curriculum from scratch, brought in working directors and DOPs as faculty, and personally mentored the first batch of students.
Three decades later, SIIFT remains family-run and mentor-first. 6,500 alumni later, the same hands-on philosophy still runs every classroom, every shoot, every edit bay.
"We don't teach filmmaking. We make filmmakers — one frame, one cut, one student at a time."
To put a camera, an edit bay and a mentor in the hands of every serious student — regardless of background.
Government registered. NCVTE affiliated. ISO 9001:2015 certified. But the real certification is the film each student walks out the door having made.
Three principles, no exceptions.
Mentor-first
Every student is taught by working directors, DOPs and editors — not theorists.
Shoot from day one
No two-year theory gap. Every student writes, shoots and edits their own short film in term one.
Craft over hype
Storytelling, framing, light and rhythm — fundamentals first, trends second.
The road so far.
Founded in Chennai by Srithar.S & Vijaya Shanthi.S — the first private film institute in South India.
Expanded to a dedicated studio and editing lab on Brindavan Nagar.
Crossed 3,000 alumni; introduced Digital Cinematography and VFX tracks.
NCVTE affiliation and full ISO 9001:2015 certification.
6,500+ alumni working in film, OTT, advertising and news media worldwide.
Walk into the
studio.
Admissions open for 2025. Visit us at Valasaravakkam, Chennai — between 10 AM and 1 PM, Monday to Saturday.