India, UK ink film production pact

I&B Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi today signed a pact to this effect with UK’s Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sports, Tessa Jowell. It will help film producers of the nations get to pool creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources to produce films and television programmes.

‘‘While Indian producers can benefit from sops extended to the film industry in UK, our laws need to be further liberalised,’’ said the source, adding that talks will be held ‘‘with the Home Department to allow a more liberalised regime’’. It would entail further simplifying of procedures for obtaining visa, and clearance for shooting films in India.

Under the pact, the cost-competitive, post-production sector of the film industry will stand to benefit. Also, from the business perspective, the producers of the countries would gain as it would provide for a larger audience. India has been receiving proposals from countries for such agreements. India has already signed a similar pact with Italy. The Ministry has a protocol on cinema with France since 1985. The treaty is being considered for a revamp as many of the clauses therein have become outdated.