Hyderabad : Annapurna International School of Film + Media (AISFM), India’s premier film school announced a tie up with the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, USA, which is ranked as one of the world’s top film schools.

The signing ceremony to commemorate the first joint activity between the two film schools was graced by Hollywood Producer & Oscar nominee Ms. Alexandra Rose, Mr. Kurt Inderbitzin, CEO, AISFM, Ms Amala Akkineni and Mr. Chris Higgins, Vice-President, Admissions & Marketing, AISFM.

Chapman University is a private university located in Los Angeles, USA, affiliated with the Christian Church. Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges. The university offers 46 undergraduate and 17 graduate majors.

This is a one of its kind tie-up for a film school in India where as a part of this association, a team comprising faculty and students from Chapman University will participate in an exchange program with AISFM.

During this two-week long exchange program, the students from Chapman University will be making three films, working in teams along with the students of AISFM. One of the films features Amala Akkineni and is set at the Blue Cross of Hyderabad. Faculty from both AISFM and Chapman University will guide the students and oversee the projects.

Speaking on the occasion, Chris Higgins of AISFM said “This is the first time that Indian film students have had the opportunity to collaboratively produce films with some the the top film students from the US. The program is an important cultural exchange initiative and represents the start of the relationship between AISFM and Chapman University. “

The Chapman team is headed by their Chair of Special Projects and Industry Initiatives, Alexandra Rose, who has a tremendous filmmaking background.

Rose has produced classic films like Big Wednesday, Frankie and Johnny, Nothing in Common, and her work has been recognized with an Academy Award nomination for the film, Norma Rae for Best Picture. She has taught filmmaking in the top film schools around the world like U.C.L.A., U.S.C. and the American Film Institute.

Commenting on the occasion, Alexandra Rose said, “The collaboration has been absolutely seamless and joyous. This has been an incredible experience for our students who got to learn about the Indian culture. AISFM is the best film school in India. They have a world class curriculum and we look forward to continuing this collaboration. ”

AISFM is the first film school in India to offer accredited Bachelors and Master degrees in film making, animation and visual effects, and media management. The institute has celebrated filmmakers, actors and directors such as Hema Malini, Maniratnam, Kamal Hassan, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Resul Pookutty, SonuSood, Tabu, Farah Khan, Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap on their Advisory Board Council. These eminent personalities provide guidance in designing the academic curriculum, and providing recommendations on faculty and placements.