Multi-phase investment program aims to build creative skills across visual effects, animation, and inclusive media access.
NEW DELHI :Netflix has announced a comprehensive multi-phase skill development program in India aimed at building a talent pipeline for the country’s entertainment sector. The announcement came after Netflix Co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss expanding India’s role as a global content creation hub.
The streaming service, marking 10 years of operation in India, unveiled the “Netflix India Storytelling Initiative” to equip young creators with technical and narrative skills across animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC).
Writing on social media platform X following the meeting, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the country’s creative potential.
“Discussed the immense potential of India’s media and entertainment sector,” Modi said. “India has a rich tradition of storytelling and an extraordinary pool of creative talent, which can be leveraged to strengthen our nation’s position as a global hub for content creation.”
Strategic Institutional Partnerships
As part of the initiative’s first phase, Netflix has formed strategic partnerships with two domestic institutions: the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and the state-backed National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
Under the IICT collaboration, Netflix will help design industry-aligned curricula focused on visual effects mastery and media technology workflows. The streaming platform will also fund 100 scholarships for students enrolled in specialized disciplines, including interactive comics, virtual art creation, character animation, and esports management.
The partnership with the NFDC focuses on training specialized media professionals, including audio description writers and voice talent, to expand accessible content for audiences with visual or hearing impairments.
“Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of seeing Indian stories connect with audiences not just across India, but around the world,” Sarandos said in a statement. “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.”
Long-Term Market Focus
Since entering the Indian market, Netflix has produced more than 200 original titles and filmed in over 100 locations across the country. The latest skill-building drive is designed to align with broader national workforce targets under the government’s economic growth programs.
Executives said the initiative represents a shift toward developing technical infrastructure and specialized talent to support expanding local production requirements. Details regarding the overall monetary investment for future phases of the program have not yet been disclosed.
