Annapurna Film College hosts ‘ELEVATE’ masterclass to prepare students for industry
HYDERABAD: Annapurna College of Film and Media recently concluded ELEVATE, a two-day career-readiness masterclass series aimed at bridging the gap between academic training and the entertainment industry.
Held at the Shiva Preview Theatre at Annapurna Studios, the programme sought to equip aspiring filmmakers and media professionals with practical insights into industry expectations, emerging trends and the business aspects of creative work.
The initiative featured panel discussions and workshops with producers, directors and senior industry executives. Beyond technical skills, ELEVATE stressed the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset and encouraged students to actively shape their career paths.
Industry preparedness and pitching skills
Day one focused on professional attitude and readiness for life after film school. Sessions titled “Life After Film School” featured professionals and alumni including Abhilash Reddy, Varun Reddy, Puja Kolluru, Sameer Kumar, Anil Kumar, Madhusudan Reddy and Meher Kilaru.
The speakers shared experiences from their early careers, underlining the value of consistent effort, continuous learning and building strong portfolios. Writer-director D.S. Kannan also led a session on effective pitching, offering practical advice on presenting stories to producers.
Balancing creativity with commercial viability
Day two, moderated by creative producer Adhip Iyer, examined the commercial realities of the media and entertainment sector. A panel comprising Prasad Nimmakayala, Sharrath Marar, Padma Kasturirangan and Nitin Chakravarthy discussed the challenge of balancing creative vision with business sustainability.
Chakravarthy, an alumnus of the college, highlighted the importance of understanding the business side of filmmaking. “Understanding the business side of content creation is just as important as creativity. Being authentic and business-wise helps filmmakers build sustainable careers,” he said. He cited the success of two ETV Win films produced on a combined budget of under ₹4 crore that went on to gross over ₹60 crore.
Independent producer Sharrath Marar said initiatives like ELEVATE were critical for film students. “It is honest, practical and future-focused. Annapurna College deserves credit for initiating conversations that prepare students for the real world,” he said.
The series concluded with a session by Varun Jakkinapalli on financial literacy, focusing on budgeting, investments and long-term career sustainability.
