Film and Television Institute of India Entrance Examination

The FTII Entrance Test (FTII-ET) is the admission examination of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, for its master's degree programmes in cinema and postgraduate certificate courses in television. FTII is a deemed-to-be university, and its current official material uses the name FTII Entrance Test, not the historical “FTII JET” label.

FTII-ET is not a conventional one-paper entrance where the written score alone secures admission. For most programmes, the written test carries only 25% of the final selection weight; a campus-based practical, analytical, performance and interaction assessment carries 75%. Screen Acting has its own audition-led second stage. Candidates should begin with the https://ftii.ac.in/en/admission-2" class="inlink">official FTII admissions page and the https://ftii.ac.in/api/serve/2026/04/09/Admission_Prospectus_FTII-ET-2025-26_1775711545_939f5b95.pdf" class="inlink">current FTII-ET prospectus.

The official prospectus includes the following Film Wing MFA specialisations:

• Direction and Screenplay Writing;
• Cinematography;
• Editing;
• Sound Recording and Sound Design;
• Art Direction and Production Design;
• Screen Acting;
• Screenwriting for Film, Television and Web Series.

The Television Wing offers one-year postgraduate certificate courses in Direction, Electronic Cinematography, Video Editing, and Sound Recording and Television Engineering. Course names, degree status and combinations can change, so use the prospectus for the admission cycle in which you apply.

Most Film Wing MFA specialisations and all listed Television Wing postgraduate certificate courses require a bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline. Art Direction and Production Design is different: the cited prospectus requires a bachelor's degree in applied arts, architecture, painting, sculpture, interior design, a related fine-arts field, or equivalent.

Degree equivalence must be supported by the candidate. Students awaiting final results should verify the document-production deadline rather than assuming provisional eligibility. Indian-nationality and reservation/document rules are governed by the current prospectus.

FTII groups programmes to control which combinations can be selected. The cited rules allow one programme from the available list, or specified pairs in similar disciplines across Film and Television Wings. Art Direction and Production Design and Screen Acting are single-course choices. Direction/Screenplay Writing combinations also have specific restrictions.

Do not pay for two programmes before confirming that the combination is permitted. Ask two questions: “Am I academically eligible for both?” and “Does the prospectus allow this exact pair?”

For every programme except Screen Acting, Stage 1 has two papers taken within a total of 2 hours 30 minutes:

Each Paper I MCQ carries two marks. A correct answer earns +2, a wrong answer or multiple selection loses 0.5, and an unanswered question earns zero. Paper I covers allied arts, literature, general knowledge and awareness relevant to the course, plus the chosen specialisation. Paper II tests discipline knowledge through descriptive responses.

There is a screening sequence inside Stage 1. Paper I is evaluated for everyone. Only candidates shortlisted from Paper I have Paper II evaluated. Candidates are then shortlisted on their combined Stage-1 performance for Stage 2, normally in the prescribed seat-linked ratio. Merely writing both papers does not guarantee descriptive-paper evaluation.

Screen Acting uses a different Stage 1: 50 MCQs for 100 marks in 90 minutes. The paper has a general section covering allied arts, literature, history, current affairs and awareness, plus an acting-specific section. Marking is +2 for correct, −0.5 for wrong or multiple selection, and zero for unanswered questions.

Shortlisted candidates attend Stage 2 at FTII Pune. The cited structure assigns 50 marks to an integrated audition—including spontaneous exercises and a prepared Hindi or English monologue of up to three minutes—and 50 marks to personal interaction assessing motivation, cinematic awareness and readiness for intensive training.

For non-acting programmes, Stage 2 is a mixed-format assessment that may include practical, analytical, performance and interaction components. It is conducted at FTII Pune, and candidates arrange their own travel, accommodation and meals. Screen Acting uses audition, performance and interaction.

Final merit combines Stage 1 at 25% and Stage 2 at 75%. This means written preparation is necessary to reach the second stage, but specialisation fit, observation, problem-solving, creative judgement, communication and practical readiness dominate final selection.

1. Study the official previous papers available through the https://ftii.ac.in/admission-3" class="inlink">FTII admissions section and classify questions by cinema, allied arts, literature, current affairs and specialisation.

2. Build a working history of Indian and world cinema: movements, major filmmakers, landmark films, crafts and institutions. Avoid memorising lists without understanding why a work matters.

3. Follow credible film, television, cultural-policy and arts news.

4. Learn the vocabulary of your craft—shots and lenses for cinematography, continuity and rhythm for editing, acoustics and signal concepts for sound, or dramaturgy and performance for acting.

5. Practise MCQs with the −0.5 penalty. Attempt uncertain questions only after eliminating options.

Descriptive answers should reveal judgement, not coaching jargon. Practise analysing a scene, adapting a short situation, explaining a visual or sound decision, responding to an ethical/production constraint and defending a creative choice.

Use a simple structure: identify the problem, state the intended audience effect, propose a technically plausible choice, discuss alternatives and acknowledge limitations. Write under time pressure. Clear thinking, specific examples and command of the selected craft matter more than ornamental language.

• Maintain a portfolio or evidence file even when the prospectus does not make a conventional portfolio compulsory: short films, scripts, photographs, sound pieces, edits, designs, theatre work or reflective notes relevant to the discipline.
• Be able to explain exactly what you contributed to collaborative work.
• Revisit every film, book or artist named in your application; interviewers may probe superficial claims.
• Practise unfamiliar briefs with limited time and resources.
• Prepare an honest answer to why this discipline—not merely “film”—fits your experience and goals.
• For acting, prepare the prescribed monologue but also train spontaneity, listening, physical awareness and redirection.

FTII does not have one stable public cutoff comparable across all courses. Shortlisting is programme, category, stage and seat-ratio specific. Paper I determines whether Paper II is evaluated; combined Stage 1 determines Stage-2 shortlisting; weighted Stage 1 and Stage 2 performance determines final merit.

The official tie-break for most programmes prioritises Stage 2, then combined Stage 1, Paper II, Paper I and age in sequence, with a final draw if necessary. Acting uses Stage 2, Stage 1 and age before any final draw. Treat old scores as context, not predictions.

1. Check the official result/shortlist notice; FTII may publish roll numbers rather than personalised counselling messages.

2. If shortlisted for Stage 2, download instructions and arrange travel to Pune.

3. Carry every required original and copy for identity, degree, category and equivalence verification.

4. Complete the practical/audition/interaction process as instructed.

5. Track the final merit list and seat-allocation notices.

6. Accept the allotment, pay institutional fees and complete medical/document formalities within the deadline.

The cited prospectus lists small programme intakes—often 11 or 16 seats in Film Wing specialisations and 11 in each listed Television Wing course—making selection highly competitive. Application fees, tuition, deposits, hostel charges and category-wise seat distribution are cycle-specific. Use the prospectus fee tables rather than third-party summaries, and budget separately for Stage-2 travel and accommodation.

• Searching for “FTII JET” and following an obsolete joint-test pattern.
• Assuming every course accepts any bachelor's degree.
• Selecting an impermissible two-course combination.
• Preparing only objective film trivia and ignoring the descriptive paper.
• Forgetting that Paper II is evaluated only after Paper-I screening.
• Treating the written score as the final merit score.
• Arriving at Stage 2 without practical work, clear motivation or original documents.
• Confusing FTII Pune's exam with the separately administered SRFTI/FTII Itanagar process.

• https://ftii.ac.in/en/admission-2" class="inlink">FTII official admissions page
• https://ftii.ac.in/api/serve/2026/04/09/Admission_Prospectus_FTII-ET-2025-26_1775711545_939f5b95.pdf" class="inlink">FTII-ET prospectus
• https://ftii.ac.in/admission-process-6" class="inlink">Admission process and notices
• https://ftii.ac.in/admission-3" class="inlink">Previous entrance papers and admission resources
• https://ftii.ac.in/academics" class="inlink">FTII academic departments

Use the prospectus issued for your own admission cycle. Programme names, combinations, seats, fee tables, assessment components and dates may change.