Netflix has launched the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative, a programme aimed at developing new creative talent in India. The announcement comes after Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss Indian stories reaching wider global audiences and the company’s continued investment in the country’s creative sector.
The company said it has worked with Indian creators for more than a decade. During that period, Netflix has produced over 200 Originals and filmed in more than 100 locations across India. The new initiative builds on that presence by focusing on training, institutional partnerships and skills needed in newer areas of entertainment production.
Focus on AVGC and creative training
The initiative will support aspiring creators through a multi-phase investment in talent development. A key area of focus is the AVGC space, which includes Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics. Netflix said the programme will work with leading Indian institutions to help students and young professionals learn skills that match industry needs.
The company has linked the effort to the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision, particularly the aim of bringing education and industry closer. Netflix said it wants to help prepare Indian creative talent for work that can reach audiences in India and abroad.
Sarandos said India has long been known for storytelling and that Indian stories have connected with viewers around the world. He added, "As we begin our next decade here, we believe our greatest investment is in the people who will tell India’s next generation of stories." He said the initiative reflects Netflix’s long-term commitment to creating more opportunities for emerging creators.
Partnership with IICT
The first phase of the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative includes a partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, or IICT. Netflix and IICT will work on an industry-focused curriculum in Visual Effects Mastery and Media Technology Workflows.
Netflix will also provide 100 scholarships for students joining in-person courses. The listed areas include:
- Interactive Comics and Sequential Art
- Virtual Art Department Content Creation
- Art of Character Animation
- E-Sports and Gaming Management
- Other emerging creative fields
The source announcement does not mention application dates, eligibility rules or scholarship deadlines. It only states that the scholarships will be linked to in-person courses in the above fields.
NFDC collaboration for accessibility skills
Netflix has also partnered with the National Film Development Corporation to train professionals for accessibility-related roles. The collaboration will focus on audio description writers and voice professionals who can help make films and series more accessible to audiences with visual and hearing impairments.
According to the announcement, the programme will follow international standards while also taking local storytelling practices into account. The training is connected to the Prime Minister’s accessibility agenda and the wider aim of inclusive storytelling.
The accessibility partnership is significant because it deals with practical production roles that can affect how viewers experience films and series. By training people in audio description and related voice work, the programme is expected to support more accessible screen content across formats.
Netflix’s stated aim in India
Netflix said the new initiative is part of its next phase of work in India. The company wants to create more opportunities for emerging creators, improve production capabilities and help Indian stories reach viewers in more markets.
No financial amount for the investment was shared in the source announcement. The details currently available are the two initial partnerships, the planned curriculum with IICT, the 100 scholarships and the NFDC training programme for accessibility-focused roles.
As Netflix enters its second decade in India, the company said it will continue investing in creative talent and industry partnerships. The initiative is being presented as a structured effort to connect training institutions with the needs of film, series, animation, visual effects, gaming and comics production.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.