The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) has taken a significant step towards enhancing international academic collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Deakin University, Australia. This agreement was finalized during the Waves Bazaar, which is being held alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025.
This MoU is a key part of the Australia–India Creative Collaboration initiative, in partnership with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). It encapsulates the shared vision of both IICT and Deakin University to promote innovation, academic excellence, and cross-disciplinary engagement in creative and technology-led education.
Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, remarked, “This collaboration strengthens our mission to nurture global talent and push the boundaries of immersive and interactive media education.”
Under this agreement, IICT and Deakin University will collaborate on various academic programs, training, and research in creative and applied technologies. This includes organizing workshops and masterclasses aimed at promoting both student and faculty mobility. Additionally, the partnership will work with industry stakeholders to ensure a meaningful real-world impact.
IICT also showcased a dedicated booth at Waves Bazaar, allowing delegates to participate in interactive activities and learn about the institution’s innovative programs and initiatives.
In conjunction with this, the 56th International Film Festival of India is featuring 18 meticulously restored classics from the Indian film industry, brought back to life under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM), managed by the NFDC and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI).
Notable films in this collection include Ritwik Ghatak’s “Subarnarekha”, Muzaffar Ali’s “Umrao Jaan”, and “Guman”, along with Kalpana Lajmi’s “Rudaali”, B.N. Reddi’s “Malleswari”, Raj Khosla’s “C.I.D”, Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa”, V. Shantaram’s “Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani”, Baburao Painter’s “Muraliwala”, Ramesh Saigal’s “Shaheed”, and Mani Ratnam’s “Gitanjali”, “Ek Doctor Ki Maut”, “Ek Hota Vidushak”, “Kireedam”, and “Musafir”.
These restorations serve to honor the contributions of some of India’s most revered cinematic figures.