India’s Farhat Basir Khan bags seat at International Institute of Film Science and Art

Prof. Farhat Basir Khan has been elected a Fellow of the International Institute of Film Science and Art (IIFSA) and named to its elite Astar Award Council, making him the first Indian scholar to hold both positions. 

The recognition goes beyond personal achievement; it marks a defining moment for India’s growing role in global cinematic discourse. 

As IIFSA prepares to launch the Astar Awards in Bangkok this August and expands its academic networks across Europe, North America, and Asia, Khan’s role is expected to shape conversations at the intersection of film, innovation, and education.

The appointment is not ceremonial. The Astar Council will oversee the jury and vision of one of the most globally anticipated awards in cinematic thought and media innovation. The ceremony, set for August 27 in Bangkok, will bring together thought leaders from film, technology, and education. Khan's inclusion signals a shift, the entry of a South Asian voice into the top tier of global cinematic discourse.

IIFSA, headquartered in New York City (USA), is known for fusing cinematic storytelling with scientific inquiry. Its list of Fellows includes some of the most influential names in the field:

Oscar Technical Award winner Demetri Terzopoulos, renowned media philosopher Patricia Pisters, and George Huang, the celebrated UCLA screenwriting professor. The institute’s advisory and research councils stretch across continents, curating academic projects, policy papers, and global film education reforms.

Over the course of four decades, Prof. Farhat Basir Khan has played a pivotal role in shaping the contours of media education in India. From helping build the academic and technical foundation of AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, now regarded as one of Asia’s foremost media schools, to designing over 24 academic programs and establishing 12 media labs across Indian institutions, his influence has been systemic rather than symbolic.

In 2021, he launched the Department of Design and Innovation at Jamia, crafting interdisciplinary courses that bridge storytelling, technology, and civic design. His current role at Jamia Hamdard continues that trajectory, focusing on future-facing approaches to visual communication and media practice.

Khan’s work has often extended beyond campus walls. Public initiatives like Photos4Peace, Chitthi Aayi Hai, and Votography reflect a career rooted in civic media and participatory communication. His mentorship of the team that brought home India’s first Sony World Photography Award at Cannes in 2009 remains a benchmark in Indian visual arts education.

His induction into IIFSA’s fellowship and the Astar Award Council is not simply a personal milestone; it aligns with the institute’s emphasis on global, inclusive, and interdisciplinary leadership. In bringing together educators, technologists, and storytellers from across the world, IIFSA is crafting a new architecture for cinema and media education, one where perspectives from the Global South are not peripheral but central.