A trip to 54th IFFI 2023
- Part 3 -

Meghachandra Kongbam *

FILM OFFICES AT FILM BAZAAR

The opening of Film Offices of the States and Countries was a significant highlight at the Film Bazaar, providing insights into the film industry of the respective states and countries. This year's attendance featured notable participation from countries such as the United Kingdom and Russia, as well as states including Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

The Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Limited (ASFFDC) represented Assam at the Film Bazaar, marking the first time a team from Assam had participated in the event. The Assam delegation included three National Award-winning directors: Reema Borah, Monjul Baruah, and Pranab Jyoti Deka.

Representatives from Assam visited the pavilions of other Indian states and foreign countries to learn about their film policies and facilities. This platform provided them with the opportunity to engage with potential buyers and agents for upcoming projects.

Discussions at the Film Bazaar covered various aspects of filmmaking, including scriptwriting, marketing, and foreign collaborations. The Assam delegation interacted with festival curators, directors, and organizers to explore future collaborations and endeavours. Simanta Shekhar, the Chairman of ASFFDC, also explored possibilities of inviting potential financiers and producers to invest in Assamese cinema.

The Uttarakhand Pavilion garnered interest from both national and international filmmakers with a focus on film shooting and investment opportunities in the state, presented under the banner- Destination Uttarakhand.

Dr Nitin Upadhyay, the nodal officer for the Uttarakhand Film Development Council highlighted the efforts to create a favourable environment for film shooting and investment in line with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directives.

To further enhance this initiative, the state is set to host the Global Investment Summit-2023 in December and a new film policy with a focus on investment has been proposed by the Uttarakhand Government. Representing Maharashtra at the Film Bazaar, the Maharashtra Film Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Ltd played a key role.

Vikas Kharge, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, representing the Maharashtra Government visited the Uttarakhand Pavilion to gather information about the film policy and plans of the Uttarakhand Government. In a collaborative spirit, he proposed joint projects between Uttarakhand and Maharashtra to promote film, art, and cultural exchange.

Gujarat took centre stage at the Film Bazaar, spotlighting the state's remarkable growth in the realm of cinema. The dedicated Gujarat-focused session offered a comprehensive overview of the state's journey toward becoming a cinematic hub.

Backed by a supportive government, a rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes, Gujarat emerges as a promising destination for filmmakers. The discussion underscored the collaborative efforts between the Gujarat state government and the central government in fostering an environment conducive to filmmaking.

Sourabh Zamsingh Pardhi MD & Commissioner of Tourism, Goa commended the policy frameworks and institutional support provided by the Gujarat government, facilitating seamless filmmaking experiences. The MP Tourism Board participated as representative of Madhya Pradesh.

At a session titled -Promoting Filmmaking in Madhya Pradesh, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary (Tourism and Culture) Madhya Pradesh said, “We have created a shootfriendly infrastructure, and Madhya Pradesh offers a perfect combination of greenery, heritage, history, and cultural richness. When it comes to shooting, the MP Tourism Board serves as a one-stop solution. The entire state is like a film city”.

The Film Facilitation Office (FFO) under the National Film Development Corporation Ltd. and such offices under the State Governments initiated by the Government of India in 2016, serves as a facilitation point for film producers, aiding them in obtaining necessary permissions. Additionally, it disseminates information on shooting locales and highlights the facilities available within the Indian film industry for production and post-production.

FIPRESCI’S PRESENCE

The Annual General Meeting of the International Federation of Film Critics, Indian Chapter takes place each year during the International Film Festival of India in Goa. While organizing the Open Forum at the festival venue by the International Film Festival of India with the active cooperation of the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI), members of the FIPRESCI took the centre stage as moderators and speakers.

The Open Forum which started since 1998 brought festival organisers, film industry professionals, film makers, media personnel, film critics and delegates to share their experience, opinions and suggestions related to Film Industry. This was the only platform where the IFFI delegates would get an opportunity to interact with the film personalities, but it was stopped since the 2020 edition.

In 2019, FIPRESCI-India in collaboration with the festival authority organised one-day seminar on film criticism at the festival venue. This year, festival authority did not approve for holding the seminar.

However, FIPRESCI-India continued to hold its Annual General Meeting during the IFFI event. This year, the meeting was held at Clube Tennis de Dias, Miramar Beach on November 24. As customary, annual edition of Cine India and the Desk Calendar 2024 were released.

My article- Karam Monomohan Singh: The First Man of Manipuri Cinema featured in the Cine India.

CONCLUSION

Manipuri cinema stands as a prominent film industry among the Tibeto-Burman language-speaking communities in India. It has evolved to the point where it can competently participate on the international stage, bringing pride to India.

With its inherent potential, numerous passionate and exceptionally talented youths have emerged in the media and entertainment sector. The current necessity is for the Government of Manipur to earnestly nurture these talents, making a concerted effort to achieve the goal of making India the third-largest film industry within the next five years.

Concluded ...