National Award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari has been nominated to the advisory board of the Indian Institute of Creative Skills (IICS), India’s first industry-led creative incubator. The institute chaired by Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookuty and overseen by the Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) is led by Grammy Award-winning composer Shankar Mahadevan.

Established under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and affiliated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Academy, IICS offers skill-based courses in sound design, animation, costume design, media management, digital journalism, event management, and other creative fields. With this nomination, Borpujari, an alumnus of IIT Roorkee, joins a panel of prominent film and creative industry experts, including directors Girish Kasaravalli, Rahul Rawail, Shonali Bose, producer Shibashish Sarkar, and editors A Sreekar Prasad and Bina Paul.

The institute plans to open its first campus in Delhi soon, followed by nine more campuses across India. It combines classroom learning with practical training through mentorship by industry professionals and hands-on projects.

Admissions are currently open for several courses, with details on the IICS website. Borpujari emphasised the institute’s mission to empower youth, including those from Northeast India, with skills for careers in the expanding entertainment sector.