Society of Indian Screen Editors
United by the Cut. Defined by the Craft.
Cinema is often remembered through its actors, directors, music and images. Yet behind every memorable film lies an invisible craft that shapes rhythm, emotion and meaning—the craft of editing.
The editor transforms footage into story, time into emotion, and images into cinematic experience.
Recognising the need for a national institution dedicated exclusively to this essential art, the Society of Indian Screen Editors Foundation (SISE Foundation) was established as a Section 8 non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013.
SISE Foundation is India's membership-driven, democratically administered, non-profit professional organisation devoted exclusively to advancing the art, craft, education, preservation, research and professional recognition of film and screen editing.
It exists to bring together editors from every language, region and sector of India's audiovisual industry under one national platform—creating a community founded on collaboration rather than competition.
The Art and Craft of Editing
Editing is more than the assembly of images.
It is the creative process through which rhythm is discovered, performances are shaped, time is constructed and meaning emerges.
The editor works at the intersection of image, sound, performance, time and emotion. Through the cut, individual pieces of filmed material become a coherent cinematic experience.
SISE seeks to strengthen the identity of the screen editor as both an artist and a storyteller, recognising editing as an essential creative discipline within filmmaking and screen storytelling.
A National Community of Screen Editors
India's audiovisual landscape is extraordinarily diverse, encompassing different languages, regions, industries, traditions and generations of filmmaking.
SISE brings this diversity together through a common professional identity.
The Foundation serves professionals working across:
Its community includes accomplished editors, assistant editors, educators, researchers, students and post-production professionals from across India.
By encouraging collaboration across these sectors, SISE seeks to strengthen professional standards while promoting mutual learning, creative exchange and professional solidarity.
What SISE Does
SISE's work extends beyond professional networking.
The Foundation promotes and develops initiatives in:
Education & Mentorship
Creating opportunities for learning, mentorship and the exchange of professional knowledge.
Research & Publications
Encouraging research, writing and documentation around the art, history and practice of screen editing.
Workshops & Seminars
Creating spaces for editors and the wider filmmaking community to engage with the craft.
Fellowships & Professional Development
Supporting the growth of emerging and established professionals.
Recognition
Celebrating excellence and significant contributions to the profession of screen editing.
Archival Preservation
Documenting the lives, careers, philosophies and contributions of India's distinguished editors.
Public Awareness
Helping audiences and the wider filmmaking community understand the creative significance of editing.
Through these initiatives, SISE seeks to strengthen the professional and cultural identity of screen editing in India.
A Democratic and Professionally Governed Institution
SISE Foundation is built upon the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, equality, artistic freedom and professional excellence.
Its constitutional framework is founded upon the principle:
One Member • One Vote • Equal Representation
Every member participates within a governance structure in which every voice carries equal value, regardless of office, seniority or distinction.
The Foundation is guided by a Governing Council, responsible for long-term vision, institutional stewardship and policy.
Its programmes and initiatives are implemented through an Executive Council, while statutory and legal responsibilities are administered through the Administrative Council, functioning in accordance with the Companies Act, 2013.
This structure is designed to provide both institutional continuity and democratic renewal, allowing experienced professionals and emerging leaders to contribute to the future of SISE.
Recognising Excellence
The SISE Title
SISE Foundation's highest honorary professional distinction is the SISE Title.
The designation recognises individuals whose distinguished careers, artistic excellence, leadership and enduring contributions have significantly advanced the profession of film and screen editing.
The SISE Title is not a membership category, academic qualification or government honour. It is a professional distinction conferred through an independent and rigorous constitutional selection process.
Recipients are authorised to use the post-nominal letters “SISE” after their professional or artistic name as a mark of professional distinction and recognition.
Through this honour, SISE seeks not only to celebrate achievement, but also to inspire future generations to uphold the highest standards of editorial craftsmanship and professional integrity.
Preserving India's Editorial Heritage
Every generation of editors builds upon the creative achievements of those who came before.
SISE believes that preserving the history of Indian screen editing is essential to understanding the evolution of Indian cinema itself.
The Foundation is committed to documenting the lives, careers, creative philosophies and contributions of India's legendary and distinguished screen editors through:
Archival research
Publications
Recorded interviews
Biographies
Digital preservation
Historical documentation
The objective is to create a permanent and accessible national resource for filmmakers, researchers, students, educators and future generations.
In preserving the people who shaped Indian cinema, SISE seeks to preserve a part of cinema's collective memory.
India's Voice in the International Editing Community
Cinema transcends national boundaries, and so does the profession of editing.
SISE Foundation represents India internationally through its membership of TEMPO – the Federation of Film Editors' Associations, an international federation bringing together professional film editors' organisations from around the world.
Through this international engagement, SISE participates in global conversations surrounding:
At the same time, SISE provides a platform through which India's rich editorial traditions can be shared with the wider international screen-editing community.
SISE Connect
The Digital Home of India's Screen Editing Community
Professional communities today extend beyond physical meetings and conferences.
Recognising this transformation, SISE Foundation has created SISE Connect, its official digital community designed to bring editors together throughout the year.
SISE Connect provides a collaborative space where editors, assistant editors, students, educators and post-production professionals can:
Learn
Discuss
Mentor
Share knowledge
Build professional relationships
Participate in community discussions
Discover educational resources
Take part in workshops and events
Explore networking opportunities
Collaborate across geographical boundaries
SISE Connect is intended to grow as a digital home for India's screen-editing community, complementing the Foundation's educational and professional programmes and strengthening collaboration across the country.
Looking Towards the Future
SISE Foundation was established not merely to represent a profession, but to build an enduring institution for generations of editors yet to come.
It seeks to preserve the legacy of those who have shaped Indian cinema while creating opportunities for those who will define its future.
The Foundation envisions an India where:
the contribution of the screen editor is widely recognised;
education and mentorship are accessible to every aspiring editor;
research and preservation safeguard India's editorial heritage;
and Indian editors actively contribute to the global advancement of cinematic storytelling.
Driven by democratic values, professional excellence and a commitment to service, the Society of Indian Screen Editors Foundation stands dedicated to strengthening the art and craft of screen editing—within India and across the world.
United by the Cut. Defined by the Craft.
