SISE: A New Society to Celebrate the Art and Craft of Film Editing in India

The Society of Indian Screen Editors brings together editors across regions, languages, generations, and mediums to nurture the craft, foster creative exchange, and build greater recognition for the art of editing.

A film takes its final shape on the editing table. It is here that performances, rhythm, emotion and narrative come together to create the final film audiences experience.

Yet editing remains one of cinema’s least understood crafts. Editors often work in isolation, with few dedicated spaces to exchange ideas, share their processes, learn from one another and engage more deeply with their craft.

The Society of Indian Screen Editors (SISE) has been formed to bridge this gap. Bringing together editors from across the country, SISE aims to encourage creative exchange, build a stronger sense of community, and deepen understanding of editing as an art and craft.

“SISE aims to bring together screen editors from different regions and mediums. Our endeavour is to bring dignity and respect to the craft of editing,” says Bina Paul, senior film editor and Chairperson of SISE.

Emphasising the society’s focus on craft rather than professional or financial representation, well-known editor Sreekar Prasad says, “This is not about the financial aspects of our profession, for which there are already film editors’ guilds and associations. SISE is, for now, an invite-only, craft-focused society that seeks to foster a sense of belonging and a shared pursuit of excellence among editors.”

As part of this collective identity, members will use SISE as a suffix to their names in film credits, creating a professional identifier that brings greater visibility to the society and the craft it represents.

The founding members include Bina Paul, Sreekar Prasad, Aarti Bajaj, Arghyakamal Mitra, Sujay Datta Ray, Subhajit Singha, Mahesh Narayanan, Namrata Rao, Irene Dhar Malik, Jabeen Merchant, Prerna Saigal, Sanjiv Shah, Manas Mittal, Shan Mohammed and Sankhajit Biswas, among others.

SISE plans to organise events and masterclasses, celebrate the work of senior and pioneering editors, honour those who have shaped the craft across generations, and introduce students and cinephiles to the intricacies of the editing process.

Through these initiatives, SISE hopes to build a more connected community of editors, nurture a culture of continued learning, and create deeper appreciation of the role editing plays in shaping cinema.