Admissions to NCA’s film and TV dept

Admissions to NCA’s film, TV dept open next month

LAHORE: The National College of Arts (NCA) will open admissions for its upcoming film and TV department next month after a meeting of the academic committee.

The sources said that a German ethno-musicologist was writing a textbook for the musicology department. The college will also introduce a one-year diploma in fresco, calligraphy, painting and Kathak dance.

NCA Principal Sajida Vandal also confirmed the news that admissions to the film and TV department would start next month. The sources said that a famous showbiz personality would be appointed the head of the film and TV department and the college was considering many names for it. “Usman Pirzada and Shireen Pasha are on top of the list.”

The film and TV department is also to start a one-year postgraduate diploma in screenplay writing. Karachi-based writer Haseena Moin will teach the subject. The sources said that the college would soon buy equipment for the new department, which is to start classes in January. The Ministry of Education had approved Rs 40 million for the purpose. The construction of two additional storeys on the existing Architecture Block to house the new department is underway. The studios of the department have been planned at the ground storey, where the design studio for the second year is located. This will be shifted to the proposed addition to the Architecture Block.

The sources said that activities related to the film and TV department had started with two Iranian filmmakers expected to visit the NCA soon to organise an Iranian film festival. The Iranian film festival will be followed by a German film festival, workshops and lectures.

Ms Vandal said the new department would introduce a four-year programme culminating in an undergraduate degree, besides a one-year professional diploma in screenplay writing.

Work on the film and TV department was started in 2000 and a five-member committee consisting of Roshan Dhanjibouy from the Heinrich Boll Foundation, Faryal Gohar, Shireen Pasha, Samina Pirzada and Sajjad Gul was formed for consultations and assistance.

The NCA will also introduce one-year diploma courses in calligraphy, fresco, painting and Kathak dance next month. The sources said that Ustad Khurshid Gohar Qalam would teach calligraphy. His works are on display at the British Museum. Fresco painting will be taught by Ustad Saifur Rehman while Naheed Siddiqui will teach Kathak dance.

The sources said the NCA had also started a conservation project supported by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). It has set up a conservation centre inside Lohari Gate. The conservation centre has developed a programme under which the Walled City residents will be taught how to conserve their old houses instead of demolishing them. The sources said the NCA’s conservation project officials had found a house in the Walled City with fresco work, which was a copy of that done at the Lahore Fort. The owners of the house want to demolish it but the NCA had offered to conserve the house and negotiations are underway.