EST. 2007
ADMISSIONS OPEN
KERALA, INDIA
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A film and photography college in Kerala

Photography. Cinematography.AI Filmmaking.

One year. Master it.
Creative Hut Academy is a residential film and photography college in Kottayam, Kerala, founded in 2007, offering one-year diplomas in photography, cinematography and AI filmmaking.
Kerala Govt
National Council
National Skill
Govt of India
Skills Council
Certified
Muted, 6s loop
On campus · Showreel
The campus behind the work

One year. One campus. Every frame made here.

A 1,70,000 sq ft residential campus in Mattakkara, Kottayam, with a river on one side and hills on the other.
Campus facilities
The Programmes

Two one-year diplomas.

Both diplomas build a strong photography and cinematography foundation, then add hands-on AI filmmaking. One year, residential, project-based, all made on campus.
PDAP

Professional Diploma in Photography and Cinematography

Master the craft end to end, stills, light, motion and the edit.
  • Photography across 10+ genres
  • Lighting, studio and livestreaming
  • Cinematography, gimbal and drone
  • Documentary and short-film portfolio
  • Editing in Premiere and DaVinci
  • Hands-on with AI tools
Message usCourse details
Certified by
College Diploma · KGTE · NCVET (MESC) · Adobe
PDAC

Professional Diploma in AI Filmmaking and Digital Cinematography

The same craft foundation, then AI filmmaking layered on top.
  • Everything in photography and cinematography
  • Drone, gimbal and livestreaming
  • AI image and video, Runway, Veo, Seedance
  • AI ads and content creation, Higgsfield, Magnific
  • Credit on a full AI feature film
Message usCourse details
Certified by
College Diploma · KGTE · NCVET (MESC) · Adobe
World's first AI feature film made inside a film school

We do not just teach AI film.
We made one.

Creative Hut Academy in Kerala produced Rising Embers, the world's first AI feature film made inside a film school. 145 minutes, made by 20 students in six months, in theatres 29 July 2026.
Conceived, generated and finished start to finish on our campus, directed by Abin Alex, crewed by 20 students and 4 faculty across six months. Every batch builds the next one.
Film by 19th Batch
English
Runtime 145 min
Behind the film
The Faculty

Mentors who still make films.

Resident gurus and visiting industry professionals from Indian cinema, visual media and commercial studios teach photography, cinematography and AI filmmaking.
Founder and Director

Abin Alex

Director of Rising Embers, the world's first AI feature film made inside a film school. 25 years teaching, and a Canon Photo Mentor for eight years.
Associate Director

Anu Joseph

Associate Director on Rising Embers, with 16 years in visual media education. She teaches storytelling, journalism and design across the batch.
Advertising Films

Rahul Rao

Creative producer with more than 25,000 product visuals made at Zwende. Co-founder of Hush Hues Studio and a Creative Hut alumnus who returned to teach.
Newborn Photography

Punnia Jones

A former NICU nurse turned newborn photographer, with more than 4,000 babies photographed for Apollo, Manipal and Cloudnine. She heads Hush Hues Studio.
Lyrics and Sound

Joseph Alex

Malayalam lyricist who wrote the words for all eight songs in Rising Embers. He mentors lyric writing, scriptwriting and cinema sound design.
Automotive Films

Ahamed Shaheen

Automotive and commercial cinematographer, founder of Scene Six Studios. A Creative Hut alumnus who returned to mentor cinematography and editing.
Architecture Photography

Amith Kumar

Architecture and interior photographer specialising in commercial space imaging, true verticals and publication ready visuals. Bio pending.
Fashion Photography

Prithesh Rao

A Canon EOS Maestro with three decades in commercial photography. Academic Head for photography at Pearl Academy Mumbai and the Lemark Institute.
Wildlife Photography

Sagar Gosavi

A Canon EOS Maestro and conservationist who has photographed more than 800 bird species and filmed snow leopards in the Spiti Valley. TEDx speaker.
Meet the full faculty
Student Work

Made by students.
Frame by frame.

Real student photography across every genre, plus documentaries, short films and AI filmmaking. Every frame shot, lit and finished by students at our Kerala film and photography college.
WildlifeStudent name
AnimalsStudent name
BirdsStudent name
AutomotiveStudent name
ArchitectureStudent name
InteriorStudent name
ProductStudent name
FoodStudent name
JewelleryStudent name
StreetStudent name
TravelStudent name
PhotojournalismStudent name
Art and CultureStudent name
PortraitStudent name
WeddingStudent name
DocumentaryStudent name
Short FilmStudent name
AI FilmRising Embers
See the full portfolio
Alumni Achievements

The wins keep coming in.

From documentary and television to AI filmmaking, our graduates keep earning recognition across the industry. Proof that one year at our photography and cinematography college in India builds careers that get noticed.
Best Non-Fiction DocumentaryAttappadiyanAgrah S Deth · Director
Best CinematographerMazhathorum MoombeGessal Sebastian · Cinematographer
Official SelectionChangaram WetlandsJohn Thomas · Director
Recognition Board
Live
'25AttappadiyanAgrah S Deth · DirectorVFDF · Best Non-Fiction Documentary
'26Mazhathorum MoombeGessal Sebastian · CinematographerAsianet · Best Cinematographer
'25Changaram WetlandsJohn Thomas · DirectorNDSF · Official Selection
Meet our alumni →
Common Questions

What families ask before they visit.

Still unsure which diploma fits? Talk to admissions, no obligation.
Message us
Who can join Creative Hut Academy?

Anyone who has completed Class 12, from any board and any stream, can join, and graduates are welcome too. No prior filmmaking or photography experience is required. Each batch takes 30 students, and seats are first come, first served.

Is the course fully residential?

Yes. Both diplomas are one year and fully residential, on our Gurukul-model campus in Mattakkara, Kottayam, Kerala, with separate hostels for boys and girls. Food is available on all working days. Students live and learn alongside their mentors, which is what the Gurukul model means in practice.

What is the fee?

The fee is identical for both diplomas: Rs 4,03,498 on instalments, Rs 3,83,498 early bird, or Rs 3,68,651 paid in full, plus a refundable Rs 10,000 caution deposit. It includes tuition, hostel, food and GST. It does not include your laptop, personal project production, optional tours or exam fees. Fees are not refundable once paid. Full terms are at Terms, clause 05.

Which diploma should I choose?

Both build the same photography and cinematography foundation in the first semester. PDAP then goes deeper into stills, lighting, motion and the edit. PDAC layers AI filmmaking on top, and every PDAC student earns a credit on a feature film. If you are unsure, message us and we will talk it through rather than guess for you.

Do I need a background in photography or filmmaking?

No. The first semester builds your visual foundation from the beginning, photography, lighting and cinematography, before anything advanced. Beginners and working creators both start in the same place.

What certifications do I earn?

Alongside the Creative Hut Academy diploma you can earn KGTE in Photography from the Department of Technical Education Kerala, NCVET-MESC skill certification under Skill India, and an Adobe qualified credential. The campus is powered by Sony.

What language is the course taught in?

Classes are conducted in English, Hindi and Malayalam, so students from across India can follow along. Our current students come from more than 15 states.

Where is the campus?

Karimpany P.O, Mattakkara, Kottayam, Kerala, India, 686564. It is a 1,70,000 sq ft residential campus with a river on one side and hills on the other, running since 2007. Visitors are welcome, and we would rather you came and saw it than took our word for it.

Is placement support included?

Yes. Both diplomas include 100% placement support and access to a graduate network of more than 520 alumni working across studios, agencies, OTT and independent practice. What we support is the search. The work you show is what gets you hired.

What makes Creative Hut Academy different?

It is the world’s first photography Gurukul. Students live and learn on campus with their mentors, 30 to a batch, for one year. It has run since 2007, holds 18 world records, and has produced more than 520 alumni. It made Rising Embers, the world’s first AI feature film made inside a film school.