AI and Film Masterclass with Rahul Puri
“It’s important to find a balance between using AI and human creativity”, says India’s top film school director at Queen Mary University of London
Rahul Puri, Director of Academics at Whistling Woods International—India’s top film school and one of the world’s top 10 film schools—recently delivered a masterclass on AI and Film at Queen Mary’s School the of Arts. The session, chaired by Professor Anat Pick, Head of the Department of Film, was part of a growing academic partnership between the two institutions.
Mr Puri’s masterclass provided students with a deep dive into the transformation of the film industry through AI. He discussed the broader landscape of Indian cinema, emphasising its cultural significance and global influence. “Film in India is a religion,” he stated, highlighting how the industry has evolved and adapted to technological advancements.
The masterclass was part of a partnership between Queen Mary and Whistling Woods International, which began in May 2023 with a progression agreement allowing Whistling Woods undergraduate students to continue their postgraduate studies at Queen Mary’s School of the Arts. This collaboration seeks to enhance academic exchange and foster innovative teaching methods in the creative fields.
Clare Burke, Head of Global Partnerships and Opportunities at Queen Mary, emphasised:
“Building strong international collaborations, especially with institutions in India, is key to fostering global perspectives in education. Our partnership with Whistling Woods International allows us to exchange knowledge, explore new ideas, and prepare students for the evolving creative industries. It’s very important that we encourage discussions on how we can integrate new technologies in the classroom.”
A key focus of the session was the rapid rise of AI technologies and their impact on filmmaking. Mr. Puri said:
"When introducing AI, we must think very carefully about how we implement it. The technology we see today won’t be the same tomorrow, and certainly not in six months. Eighteen months ago, AI-generated video could barely create human-like blobs. Now, it produces realistic people—so convincing they could be mistaken for real. What will be possible in another 18 months? We simply don’t know."
The session also addressed the evolving educational needs within creative industries. As AI continues to disrupt traditional filmmaking processes, Mr. Puri underscored the necessity of updating curricula to include AI-based automation. “We must change the way we teach film. Most AI users are under 25. Many of the students have used AI far more than I have. Yet, as educators, we must guide you in using it to enhance creativity—not as a crutch, but as a tool to expand your vision,” he noted.
Students interested in getting more information can contact Queen Mary International Partnerships Team at international-partnerships@qmul.ac.uk.