FTII Entrance Exam 2026: Re-exam on July 12, Eligibility, Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The FTII Entrance Test (FTII ET) 2025-26 is the national-level written examination conducted by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, for admission to its postgraduate programs in film, television, and digital arts. The 2025-26 cycle saw an unprecedented development when the original written test, held on April 26, 2026, had to be cancelled across all 28 examination centres after question paper packets were found unsealed at the Delhi centre; FTII has since scheduled a re-examination for July 12, 2026. In the most recent update, the FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination admit card was released on June 25, 2026, and all registered candidates can now download it from ftii.ac.in.

• Admit Card: The FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination admit card was released on June 25, 2026 (Out). Candidates can download it from ftii.ac.in using their application number and date of birth. You must carry a printed copy along with a valid government-issued photo ID to the exam centre on July 12, 2026.
• Re-examination: The FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination written test is scheduled for July 12, 2026. The exam is offline (pen-and-paper), 3 hours long, and carries 100 marks. No fresh registration or additional fee is required — all original registrations remain valid.
• Stage 2 (Orientation and Interview): Candidates who clear Stage 1 will be called to FTII Pune campus for Stage 2, which includes an orientation assessment and a personal interview. This is tentatively expected around August-September 2026, and Stage 2 carries 80% weightage in the final merit list calculation.
• Merit List and Counselling: The FTII ET 2025-26 final merit list is expected around October-November 2026, after both Stage 1 and Stage 2 are completed. Counselling and seat allotment at FTII Pune are likely in November-December 2026. In the previous cycle, FTII offered 87 seats across film and television programs.

What is the FTII Entrance Test 2025-26?

The Film and Television Institute of India Entrance Test (FTII ET), also referred to as FTII JET (Joint Entrance Test), is a national-level examination conducted by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. FTII is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and is one of the most prestigious film schools in Asia. The entrance test is the gateway to postgraduate programs in filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, cinematography, sound recording, and related disciplines at the FTII Pune campus.

FTII ET is held once a year as a written test, followed by a two-stage selection process at the FTII campus in Pune. The exam tests candidates on general knowledge, arts and culture, cinema awareness, and course-specific creative aptitude. Because of FTII’s reputation for producing leading filmmakers, cinematographers, editors, and actors in Indian cinema, the entrance test is highly competitive despite the relatively small batch sizes.

Here is a quick overview of FTII ET 2025-26:

FTII Pune stands apart from other media schools in India because of its studio infrastructure, industry-experienced faculty, and the long list of alumni who have shaped Indian and international cinema. For the 2025-26 cycle, all candidates who registered for the original April 26 exam are eligible for the July 12, 2026 re-examination without any fresh registration or additional fee.

FTII ET 2025-26: Exam Cancellation and Re-examination

The FTII ET 2025-26 original written test was scheduled for April 26, 2026, across 28 examination centres nationwide. Serious operational failures at the Delhi examination centre, however, forced FTII to cancel the exam across all centres on the very same day — an unprecedented event in the history of the entrance test.

What Happened on April 26, 2026?

At the Delhi examination centre, the strong room where sealed question paper packets were stored was found to have been breached. Multiple question paper packets arrived at the centre torn and pre-opened. Some students received photocopies of question papers instead of the original sealed packets. The delay this caused in distributing papers meant the exam could not start at the scheduled time, and the situation escalated into a law and order problem at the centre.

After reviewing the incidents at Delhi and assessing the impact on the exam’s integrity across all centres, FTII concluded that the examination could not be allowed to stand and cancelled the entire written test nationwide.

FTII Students’ Association Statement

The FTII Students’ Association (FTIISA) issued a public statement condemning what it described as "gross misconduct and mismanagement" in the conduct of the FTII Entrance Test 2025-26. The association stated that the examination’s integrity had been compromised across multiple centres and demanded accountability from those responsible for the logistical failures.

Re-examination Plan: What FTII Decided

On April 30, 2026, FTII issued an official re-examination notice. Key points of that notice:

• The complete written test, covering all papers and all courses, will be re-conducted at the national level
• All existing registrations remain valid — no fresh registration is required
• No additional examination fee will be charged to any candidate
• A change-of-centre window was opened from May 25 to May 29, 2026 for candidates who needed to update their examination city
• The re-examination date was set as July 12, 2026

If you registered for FTII ET 2025-26 before the April 7, 2026 deadline, you are automatically eligible for the July 12 re-examination. You do not need to register again or pay any additional fee.

Source: FTII Official Website — Re-examination Notice, April 30, 2026

FTII ET 2025-26 Re-examination Admit Card

The FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination admit card was released on June 25, 2026 (Out) on the official FTII website. All registered candidates can download their admit card from ftii.ac.in using their application number and date of birth. Without the admit card, you will not be allowed to enter the examination hall on July 12, 2026.

How to Download the FTII ET Re-examination Admit Card

• Go to the official website at ftii.ac.in
• Click on the admit card download link for the FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination
• Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth
• Your admit card will appear on screen — review all details carefully before printing
• Download and print the admit card on A4 paper in clear black-and-white or colour print
• Keep at least two printed copies — one for the examination centre and one for your records

Details Printed on the Admit Card

Your FTII ET re-examination admit card will mention:

• Candidate’s name and roll number
• Application number
• Examination centre name and full address
• Reporting time and examination time
• Course(s) applied for
• Important instructions for examination day

Check all details on your admit card as soon as you download it. If your name, date of birth, roll number, or exam centre is incorrect, contact the FTII Office of the Controller of Examinations immediately — do not wait until July 12 to raise a discrepancy.

Documents to Carry on July 12, 2026 (Re-examination Day)

• Printed FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination admit card (mandatory)
• One valid government-issued photo ID: Aadhaar card, passport, PAN card, voter ID, or driving licence
• Two recent passport-sized photographs (matching the one submitted in your application)

FTII ET 2025-26 Important Dates

The table below lists all key dates for the FTII Entrance Test 2025-26 cycle. Upcoming events appear first in chronological order; completed and past events are listed below them. Always check ftii.ac.in for any revisions to the schedule.

Stage 2 and counselling dates are tentative and will be officially announced on ftii.ac.in after Stage 1 results are declared.

FTII ET Eligibility Criteria 2025-26

You should check the eligibility criteria carefully before appearing for the FTII ET re-examination on July 12, 2026. The conditions vary slightly by course, particularly for Art Direction and Sound Recording specialisations.

Age Limit

• Minimum age: You must be above 21 years at the time of admission to FTII
• Upper age limit: FTII does not specify an upper age limit for most courses — candidates of any age above 21 can apply, as long as they meet the educational qualification

Educational Qualification

• Film Wing (MFA in Cinema) — most courses: A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university
• Art Direction and Production Design: A Bachelor’s degree specifically in Applied Arts, Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Interior Design, or a related fine arts discipline
• Sound Recording (Film Wing): A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, plus Physics as a subject at the 10+2 (Class 12) level
• TV Wing (1-Year PG Certificate Courses): A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university

Final-year students awaiting their degree results at the time of registration are eligible to apply. However, they must submit their final degree certificate if selected for admission. Candidates whose degree results are not yet declared by the time of admission may lose their seat.

If you applied for Sound Recording but do not have Physics at the 10+2 level, your application may be rejected at the document verification stage. Check this condition carefully before you appear for the exam.

Number of Attempts

FTII does not specify a maximum number of attempts for the entrance test. You can apply for FTII ET every year as long as you continue to meet the age and educational eligibility requirements.

Courses and Seats at FTII 2025-26

FTII Pune offers postgraduate programs through two distinct wings. The Film Wing offers a three-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Cinema across multiple specialisations. The Television Wing offers one-year Post-Graduate Certificate courses approved by AICTE. For the 2025-26 cycle, FTII has a total intake of 87 seats across all programs at its Pune campus.

The MFA in Cinema programs at the Film Wing are intensive, production-heavy three-year courses conducted at FTII’s fully equipped studio campus in Pune. The batch sizes are deliberately kept small — between 11 and 16 students per specialisation — to ensure personalised, hands-on training. The Television Wing’s one-year programs are suited for candidates who want to enter the electronic media and digital content industry with focused professional training.

The approximate annual course fee at FTII Pune is around ₹59,211 per year, subject to revision. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at additional charges, along with refundable security deposits. Check the official fee schedule on ftii.ac.in for the exact and current figures.

Source: FTII Official Website — Admission Process and Prospectus 2025-26

FTII ET Application Process and Fee

The FTII ET 2025-26 registration window was open from March 11, 2026 to April 7, 2026. Since the window is now closed and all registered candidates are covered under the re-examination on July 12, 2026, no new applications are being accepted for this cycle. Here is how the registration process works, for reference and for future cycles:

How to Register for FTII ET

• Visit the official FTII admissions portal at ftii.ac.in
• Click on ’Fresh Candidate / New Log-in’ to create a new account
• Fill in personal details (name, date of birth, contact information) and academic details as per your original documents
• Upload required documents: passport-sized photograph, specimen signature, and educational qualification certificates in the specified format and size
• Select the course(s) you want to apply for — you can apply for more than one course in a single application
• Pay the application fee using the online payment gateway
• Submit the completed form and save the confirmation number for future reference

Application Fee and Payment Methods

FTII charges a registration fee that varies based on the number of courses applied for and the candidate’s category. The application fee is non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-adjustable under any circumstances. Payment methods accepted at the time of registration:

• Internet Banking (SBI and other banks)
• Debit Card or Credit Card
• NEFT or RTGS transfer
• UPI and QR Code payment

Bank charges for online transactions are to be borne by the applicant. For the 2025-26 re-examination on July 12, 2026, no additional fee is required — the fee paid at the time of original registration covers the re-conduct of the written test.

Key Notes for Applicants

• Ensure your name and date of birth in the application exactly match your government-issued documents — mismatches can create problems at document verification
• Save your login credentials carefully — you will need them to download your admit card, check results, and access Stage 2 call letters
• FTII ET registration fees are published in the official prospectus on ftii.ac.in — check there for the exact amounts for the next cycle

FTII ET Syllabus 2025-26

The FTII ET syllabus 2025-26 covers two broad areas. Part I tests general knowledge and cinema and arts awareness; Part II has course-specific descriptive questions that assess your creative and analytical depth in the specialisation you have applied for. FTII does not publish a rigid chapter-by-chapter syllabus — the exam is designed to test your broad cultural awareness and genuine passion for the art form.

Part I Syllabus (Objective — 30 Questions, 40 Marks)

• General Knowledge: Current affairs, history (Indian and world), geography, science and technology, and national events
• Arts and Culture: Indian art forms, classical and contemporary music, theatre traditions, literature, and cultural history
• Cinema Awareness: Indian and international cinema, landmark films, major filmmakers, film history, genres, and movements (Indian New Wave, French New Wave, Italian Neorealism, Soviet Montage, etc.)
• Television and Digital Media: Indian television history, OTT platforms, web series landscape, and media regulations in India
• Film Studies: Basic film theory, film language, cinematographic principles, narrative techniques, and editing concepts

Part II Syllabus (Descriptive — 60 Marks)

Part II is course-specific. The questions test your creative thinking, conceptual clarity, storytelling ability, and technical understanding of your chosen discipline. General areas covered for major specialisations:

• Direction and Screenplay Writing: Story development, scene structure, narrative arc, characterisation, directorial vision, and screenplay formatting
• Screenwriting (Film, TV and Web Series): Original storytelling, dialogue construction, dramatic structure, and the differences between writing for film, TV, and web formats
• Cinematography: Visual composition, light and shadow, camera placement, visual storytelling, and understanding of photographic and cinematic aesthetics
• Screen Acting: Character interpretation, emotional truth, scene analysis, and understanding of the actor-director relationship
• Editing: Editing theory, rhythm and pacing, continuity editing, montage principles, and narrative logic in post-production
• Sound Recording: Sound design concepts, microphone and recording techniques, acoustics fundamentals, and the role of sound in filmmaking
• Art Direction and Production Design: Production design principles, set construction, visual aesthetics, spatial planning, and period reconstruction

The most useful preparation for Part II is to watch widely and think analytically about what you have seen — understand why scenes work, not just what happens in them. FTII values candidates who bring their own genuine perspective on cinema and creative arts.

FTII ET Result 2025-26

The FTII ET 2025-26 result for Stage 1 will be declared after the re-examination is conducted on July 12, 2026. Based on how FTII handled the 2024-25 cycle timeline, Stage 1 results are typically declared four to six weeks after the written test. For 2025-26, Stage 1 results are tentatively expected around August-September 2026.

How the Result Process Works

• After Stage 1, FTII publishes the list of shortlisted candidates on ftii.ac.in — this is not the final merit list but a Stage 1 qualifier list
• Shortlisted candidates receive a call to the FTII Pune campus for Stage 2 (orientation assessment followed by personal interview)
• The final merit list is prepared after Stage 2 is completed across all specialisations, using the combined weightage formula
• FTII publishes the final merit list along with category-wise cutoff scores on the official website

Checking Your Stage 1 Marks

In the 2024-25 cycle, FTII made a Google Form available (accessible from January 7 to January 30, 2026) for candidates to individually check their Paper-I marks, Paper-II marks, Stage 1 total, Stage 2 marks, and document verification status. A similar mechanism is expected for the 2025-26 cycle after results are declared. Watch the official website for the announcement.

The FTII ET 2025-26 final merit list is expected around October-November 2026, after both Stage 1 and Stage 2 are completed across all courses and categories. Qualified candidates will then move to counselling and seat allotment.

Preparation Tips for FTII ET Re-examination 2025-26

With the FTII ET 2025-26 re-examination on July 12, 2026 just weeks away and the admit card already released, here is a focused, practical preparation plan for the time you have left.

For Part I — Cinema, Arts, and General Knowledge

• Watch canonical films: FTII questions on cinema draw heavily from the classics. Start with Indian Parallel Cinema (Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal) and extend to international masters — Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, Federico Fellini, François Truffaut, Stanley Kubrick, and Andrei Tarkovsky. Quality matters more than quantity — watch carefully, not just widely.
• Study film history and movements: Know the key movements — French New Wave, Italian Neorealism, Soviet Montage Theory, Indian New Wave — and the directors and films associated with each. Understanding why these movements emerged helps you answer analytical questions, not just factual ones.
• Stay current on arts and media: Read newspapers and arts sections for developments in Indian cinema, OTT, media policy, and cultural events. NCERT history and culture textbooks are a reliable base for general arts and culture questions.
• Manage negative marking: Part I carries –0.25 per wrong answer. Do not guess randomly on MCQs. Attempt questions you are reasonably confident about; skip those you are uncertain of rather than losing marks.

For Part II — Course-Specific Descriptive Questions

• Know your craft deeply: If you applied for Direction, think about what makes a scene work — camera perspective, blocking, tone, pace. For Screenwriting, practise constructing loglines, three-act outlines, and individual scenes. For Cinematography, study visual composition, the language of lenses, and how light shapes meaning.
• Write regularly: Part II rewards clear, articulate, original thinking — not textbook answers. Practise writing detailed answers to open-ended questions about cinema, storytelling, and your chosen specialisation. Write every day for the next few weeks.
• Read essential books on film: David Bordwell’s Film Art: An Introduction is the most comprehensive reference for film studies. For Screenwriting, Syd Field’s Screenplay and Robert McKee’s Story are standard. For Acting, Stanislavski’s An Actor Prepares remains foundational.

For Stage 2 — Start Preparing Now

Stage 2 carries 80% of your final merit score, so preparation cannot wait until after Stage 1. The orientation assessment tests your creative thinking and film knowledge under real conditions at FTII Pune; the interview assesses your personality, motivation, and clarity about why you want to study your chosen specialisation.

• Be able to discuss at least 10-15 films (Indian and international) in depth — director, themes, technique, and why those films matter to you personally
• Articulate clearly why you want to study your chosen specialisation at FTII specifically, not just filmmaking in general
• If you have any original creative work — scripts, short films, photographs, sketches — organise it and be ready to discuss it
• Practise answering open-ended creative questions aloud — clarity and confidence in expression matter as much as the ideas themselves