Film co-production treaties with more countries: Govt

Centre is looking to increase the number of foreign countries signing film co-production treaties with India, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathode said here on Monday. The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting was the chief guest for the "Cinematic Tourism- The Way Forward" event organised by the Gujarat Tourism department to promote the state as a film-making destination.

The programme was a pre-event of the Vibrant Gujarat Investors' Summit to be held in January next year. Rathode said the Film Facilitation Centre' initiative taken by his ministry is also helping to promote tourism through movie making.

"Film co-production treaties are being signed as a mutual agreement between two countries, and we want to increase the number. We have already signed film co-production treaties with China, Canada, South Korea and some more countries," Rathode said. "The treaty helps producer of our country to work with producers of other countries to co-produce a film and the benefits are shared in terms of funding, taxation, and our films can be shown in their countries," the Minister added. 

Rathode lauded Gujarat's efforts to connect film industry with tourism. "The initiative taken by the state government is commendable and a good thought. Gujarat can get a big push in tourism through films. Centre is always there to help," he said. As per the Minister, the film facilitation office initiative taken by his ministry will require co-ordinated effort of Central and state governments.

"We have made a single-window centre for national- international producers to submit their applications, which will be responded in given time. Separate facilities for Visa to film producers are also arranged. The aim is to coordinate between Central and state governments and various ministries and departments to make it easy for film producers," he said.