CII Communique - December, 2010

entertainment
sectoral synergies
To facilitate the growth and
development of the Indian film industry,
CII organized two value based workshops
under the ‘India – The Big Picture’ brand
in Goa on 24 November, coinciding with
the 41st International Film Festival of
India. The workshops were ‘Experience
India: Shooting Locales and Service
Specialists’ and ‘Getting your Movie to Global Film
Festivals & Markets.’
The first workshop gave an insight into the varied shooting
destinations and specialized services that India has to
offer. The second deliberated on entry into global film
festivals and markets and centered on the dos and dont’s
of film visibility and understanding changing trends.
The discussions brought forth the need for an
independent film commission backed by the Ministry
of Information and Broadcasting to attract foreign film
makers to the shooting locations and talent in India. Also,
there was a general consensus on the requirement of a
National Film and TV Market that creates a buyer-seller
platform, not only attracting foreign buyers but bringing
all regional stakeholders of India under one umbrella to
engage in buying and selling.
Indian Cinema is one of the most heavily taxed industries,
and has been seeking Single Window clearances for
shooting from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
as well as the Ministry of External Affairs. Mr Manoj
Srivastava, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa, speaking
at the workshop on ‘Experience India’ pushed for further
tax concessions from the central government. He also
supported the implementation of online clearances for
film shooting in India, both at the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting, and at the state level.
Mr Kalyan Mukherjee, Director, KAS Movie Makers,
presenting a case study of India and Kenya, pointed out
that scripts are cleared in Kenya in two days compared
to three weeks in India. “We need to have an aggressive
dedicated team of people to clear scripts. This needs to
be executed on priority,” he said.
Mr Rajesh Sharma, Director General,
Services Export Promotion Council said
the Council is keen to work closely
with the industry and take up issues
pertaining to export of entertainment
services.
At the workshop on ‘Getting your Movies
to Global Festival and Markets,’ Mr Ketan Mehta, eminent
film maker stresed that film festivals are a vital link in
the growth of a film maker and industry as a whole.
“Despite challenges and limitations, Indian film makers
are lucky as we have an indigenous market and media
that supports our films”, he said.
The number of Indian movies selected in international
film festivals is very low, compared to the huge talent
pool available in India. A strategic approach with a need
to research, plan in advance, use descriptive subtitles
etc were the imperatives highlighted for making a mark
in global festivals.
Mr L Suresh, President, Film Federation of India, said
that Indian film makers do not do the required homework
in getting their films into global festivals like Cannes or
Berlinale. “It is important to plan early and communicate
to festival organizers at the script level,” he advised.
Industry representatives who participated in the workshop
also included Ms Meenakshi Shedde, India Consultant
for Berlinale and the Dubai International Film Festival;
Ms Uma Da Cunha, film critic and curator; Mr Frank
Stehling, Managine Director, PrimeHouse GmbH and Mr
Jiten Hemdev, Managine Director, Star Entertainment.
The Confederation of Indian Industry has been
instrumental in promoting the growth and development
of the Indian Film Industry and increasing its visibility in
the domestic and global market place. Over the years,
‘India-The Big Picture’ conference - a confluence of
creativity and commerce - has been able to position
India’s might in the entertainment and media services
business.
Rajesh Sharma, Director General, Services Export Promotion Council; Kalyan Mukherjee, KAS Movie Makers; Junaid Memon, Nomad Films;
Mohan Krishnan, Head -Communications, Prasad Labs and Manoj Srivastava, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa at India – ‘The Big Picture’
Communiqué December 2010 | 27