MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS

Film Editor

Cuts and arranges shot footage into a finished film, show or video with pace and story.

Any stream; a degree is needed After Class 12 Private sector

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Seeing a rough pile of footage turn into a clear story
Working with a director and a team over long periods
Making small choices that change how a scene feels

It may not suit you if you dislike

Long hours in a dark edit suite, especially near deadlines
Years of study and unpaid or low-paid assistant work before a steady name
Work is project-based, so income and jobs can be uneven

Class 11–12 subjects: Class 12 in any stream. Then a bachelor's degree in any discipline for the FTII or SRFTI postgraduate courses. A BA or BSc in film or media is another way in.
First degree: Bachelor's degree (3 years) in any subject for FTII or SRFTI. The FTII and SRFTI courses are postgraduate: a 3-year MFA in Editing, or a 1-year TV course in Video Editing at FTII.
Entrance exams: FTII Joint Entrance Test (JET), used for FTII and SRFTI courses. Stage 1 is a written test; Stage 2 is an interview, orientation or audition.
Licence or registration: None needed to start working.

Open to every streamAny stream; a degree is needed.Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Going through hours of footage with the director, choosing the best takes, setting the pace of each scene, adding sound and music cues, and making several versions until the story works. Works for films, TV shows, ads, documentaries and web series.

A day in the work
A typical day starts with reviewing the footage shot the day before and logging which takes are usable. You then spend several hours cutting a scene, testing different rhythms and checking them with the director or producer. The afternoon may bring notes, re-cuts, sound and music work, and a file export for the next stage.

The path, step by step

Class 10–12Any stream is fine. Watch films closely and notice how cuts change mood. Make short videos on a phone or school computer, and keep your Class 12 marks steady, because a degree is the next step.
After Class 12 · 3 yearsComplete a bachelor's degree in any discipline. A BA or BSc in film or media is also an option, and it gives practice in editing and production.
Final year of degree or afterApply for the FTII Joint Entrance Test for FTII or SRFTI. Stage 1 is a written test and Stage 2 is an interview or orientation. A re-examination notice for the 2025-26 test was reported, so check ftii.ac.in for the latest dates. (reported — check with the official body)
3 years (MFA) or 1 year (PG certificate)Study editing at FTII (MFA in Editing, 3 years, 11 seats; or the 1-year TV course in Video Editing) or at SRFTI Kolkata (MFA in Editing, with a 1-year bridge programme followed by 2 years).
After trainingBuild a showreel of your best cuts. Start as an assistant editor on films, ads, TV or web shows, and take small freelance jobs to gain experience. (reported — check with the official body)

Ways in

RouteFTII or SRFTI postgraduate editing course, after a degree in any subject
RouteBA or BSc in film or media, then assistant editing work and a showreel

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (any stream)	2 years	Your school's fees	Your school's fees	—
Bachelor's degree in any subject (BA/BSc film or media also possible)	3 years	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page	Scholarship details: check the college's fee page
FTII Joint Entrance Test (JET), Stage 1 written, Stage 2 interview or audition	Check the notice (re-examination reported for 2025-26)	Check the notice	—	—
FTII MFA in Editing (3 years, 11 seats) or 1-year TV Video Editing course, FTII Pune	3 years (MFA) or 1 year (PG certificate)	Check the college's fee page	—	Scholarships offered on merit or need (reported); check ftii.ac.in
SRFTI Kolkata MFA in Editing (1-year bridge then 2 years)	3 years	Check the college's fee page	—	Scholarships offered on merit or need (reported); check srfti.ac.in
Assistant editor work and freelance jobs after training	6–12 months	Pay: not stated on the page	Pay: not stated on the page	—

Total timeAbout 6 years after Class 12 (3-year degree plus 3-year MFA), or about 4 years via the 1-year PG course

Total costReported figures put a full 3-year FTII or SRFTI course at roughly ₹1.2 to ₹1.8 lakh in total, though official course fees were not confirmed.

Good to knowOfficial FTII and SRFTI course fees were not confirmed, so check each college's fee page; the FTII Itanagar figures do not apply to the editing course.

Fees from: FTII Admission Prospectus 2025-26 (official PDF; fee figures not confirmed from it) · FTII Itanagar Prospectus 2026 (fee structure), srfti.ac.in PDF. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Pay starts low for assistant editors and grows with credits, the size of the project and the employer; freelance editors' income can rise or fall from one project to the next, and the city where you work makes a difference.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~You must study at FTII or SRFTI to become a film editor.~~

Fact: These institutes are one route, and seats are very few. Many editors learn through assistant work, short films and a strong showreel.

For girls and students with disabilities

FTII and SRFTI reserve seats for SC, ST, OBC non-creamy layer and EWS candidates, and the official admission pages list these reservations. Check the current prospectus for any seats set aside for students with disabilities.

Try it now

Class 7–9Cut a one-minute video of a school event using a free editing app on a phone or computer. Then cut it again, shorter, and see what you removed.
Class 10–12Read the FTII prospectus or the course pages to see what the editing course asks for and what the entrance test covers.Open link ↗
College or afterJoin a college film or media club and offer to edit the final cut of a short film or documentary.

Good to know

The FTII and SRFTI editing seats are few. Many working editors learn through assistant work and a strong showreel instead.
Exam dates change from year to year. Check ftii.ac.in before planning around any date.
Software skills matter in the job, and they are built through practice on real projects.

Sources: FTII Admission Prospectus, FTII-ET-2025-26 (official PDF, ftii.ac.in) · SRFTI Kolkata, Programme Overview (official site) · SRFTI Kolkata, Admission Process (official site)