MUMBAI : Annapurna International School of Film + Media (www.aisfm.edu.in) today announced a new summer workshop - Filmmaking for Engineering Students. The workshop involves working in teams to develop stories and to produce films. This process enables students to gain experience in the soft skills that are sought by employers.

The workshop covers scriptwriting, basic camera operations, editing and sound mixing, with a focus on teamwork and creativity.

"For many engineering students, the focus on technical studies and preparing for exams can squeeze out any time for creative endeavors. That's why we have scheduled this workshop in the summer holidays, so that students can build their communication skills without impacting their studies." Akkineni Nagarjuna, President of AISFM, said.

It's not surprising that soft skills continue to play a big role in hiring decisions. Almost all India's leading IT and engineering firms have expressed concern at the difficulty in recruiting graduates. While many students have acceptable technical skills, most students are lacking in verbal and written communication skills, creativity, and teamwork and etiquette.

"I believe that schools like ours can help by assisting the students with the hands-on teamwork experience that is missed in our schools and universities. Also, soft skills are characteristics that make us more likable and help with making new friends." Nagarjuna adds.

Chris Higgins, Vice President - Marketing and Admissions, explained, "Many engineering students are passionate about cinema. This course allows them to explore that passion by making films, while also developing key skills for their careers. At our workshop the focus is to teach them communication, co-ordination and leadership skills which will add muscle to their career growth."

The Workshop will be held from 9:30am to 1:30pm, Monday to Friday, at the AISFM campus inside Annapurna Studios, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Classes run from 27th May to the 21st of June. The four week course fee is Rs.10,000/-