Dehradun – In a significant stride towards establishing Uttarakhand as a leading destination for film production, a one-day workshop was held on Wednesday at a hotel on Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun. Organized jointly by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC), the workshop centered on the theme “Development of Filming Ecosystem in Uttarakhand.”
The event commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting by UFDC Chief Executive Officer Banshidhar Tiwari, Joint CEO Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Film Director from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Shilpa Rao, and NFDC General Manager Ajay Dhoke.
The workshop brought together film producers, policy experts, senior administrative officials, and other stakeholders. The discussions primarily revolved around policy reforms, development of modern filmmaking infrastructure, and boosting regional cinema.
UFDC CEO Banshidhar Tiwari emphasized the state government’s continued efforts, under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and in collaboration with the central government, to transform Uttarakhand into a prominent hub for film production. He highlighted key provisions of the new film policy, including a substantial increase in subsidies for regional language films—from ₹25 lakh to ₹2 crore.
Additionally, an extra 5% incentive on the total production cost is being provided for shooting at lesser-known locations, and special subsidies are available for projects that engage local artists. The policy also includes a one-time financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for establishing single-screen theatres in hilly areas.
To support filmmakers, UFDC is compiling a comprehensive database of local artists, technicians, equipment, and logistics service providers.
Tiwari revealed that plans are underway, in collaboration with NFDC, to launch a dedicated Uttarakhand Film Festival and state-level film awards. Coordination with Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT platform is also being pursued to promote regional films digitally. Regular skill development workshops for local youth are part of the roadmap.
He also advocated for the development of a unified digital portal offering end-to-end information on filmmaking in the state.
Shilpa Rao, Director (Films) at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, spoke about national initiatives to position India as a global film production destination. She highlighted platforms like Waves Summit and Indian Cine Hub that facilitate production support across the country. Rao also called for reviving community-based film screenings in rural and semi-urban regions.
NFDC General Manager Ajay Dhoke elaborated on various schemes and production assistance available through NFDC. India Cine Hub’s Assistant Vice President Ram Kumar Vijayan outlined the benefits of an integrated portal for permissions and resources, simplifying the production process for filmmakers.
Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Joint CEO of UFDC, showcased the state’s innovation-driven film policy, emphasizing the three pillars of Uttarakhand’s filmmaking model—talent, training, and technology. The policy aims to nurture local storytellers, technicians, and creative youth by offering them platforms and opportunities within the state.
In the concluding Q&A session, filmmakers and technical experts engaged directly with NFDC and UFDC officials, who addressed their queries and offered clarifications.
Prior to the workshop, a joint high-level meeting between NFDC and UFDC officials was conducted to deliberate on strengthening Uttarakhand’s position in the national film map. Discussions included expansion of cinema infrastructure, promotion of regional films, and bolstering the creative economy.
Key attendees included Shilpa Rao (Director, Films), Ajay Dhoke (General Manager, NFDC), Ashish Tripathi (Additional Director, Information), Shruti Rajkumar (Vice President, India Cine Hub), Mayur Patel (Manager, Film Bazaar), Nachiket Shirolkar (Consultant, International Publicity), and Abhay Kumar (Project Manager, Unicops), among others.
