The BRICS Educational Film and Media Association has appointed Syed Sultan Ahmed as vice-president to steer its strategic programmes across BRICS and BRICS+ nations. The move marks the first time an Indian educator has been tasked with supporting BEFMA’s expansion across the bloc, with a mandate to strengthen film-based education, media literacy and cross-border school collaborations.
In his new role, Ahmed will lead initiatives aimed at building a more inclusive, innovative and impactful media education ecosystem. His focus will be on enabling educators and students to both engage with and produce content that reflects diverse global perspectives.
“I’m honoured to join BEFMA at a moment when film and media are becoming vital tools for education and global conversation,” said Ahmed. “I look forward to working with educators, filmmakers and young creators across BRICS to expand access, deepen media literacy, and give learners the means to tell their own stories to the world.”
Ahmed brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of cinema, life skills education and school leadership. He currently serves as chairperson of The Association of International Schools of India (TAISI), is founder and chief learner of LXL Ideas, and curator of the School Cinema International Film Festival (SCIFF). His film-based teaching pedagogy, School Cinema, has reached millions of students across countries, integrating cinematic storytelling into classroom learning.
A seven-time National Film Award recipient, Ahmed has been recognised by the President of India for Best Educational Film, Best Film on Family Values and Best Film on Sports, among other honours. His films have been showcased at over 575 international film festivals, underscoring his role in linking education with cinematic craft and global cultural dialogue.
BEFMA is a collaborative initiative spanning Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with BRICS+ nations. The association seeks to harness film and digital media to transform education, promote cultural understanding and enable learners to think critically and creatively. By bringing together educators, filmmakers and media professionals, BEFMA positions media literacy as a foundational skill in contemporary education systems.
The organisation operates through three core pillars: Access, Learn and Produce. These pillars aim to ensure equitable access to media education, foster collaborative learning environments and empower students to create and distribute their own content. BEFMA’s programmes include film clubs, teacher training initiatives, student competitions, mentorship platforms and an annual film festival showcasing youth voices from across BRICS countries.
Ahmed’s appointment signals BEFMA’s intent to scale these initiatives with stronger institutional linkages and cross-border collaboration. By aligning film, pedagogy and technology-enabled learning, the association aims to build a multilingual, globally connected platform for educational storytelling and creative exchange.
