GOA/UTTARAKHAND: At the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the Uttarakhand Film Vikas Parishad participated in the film market in Goa. In this episode, the new film policy 2024 launched by the Uttarakhand State Government was discussed in the Knowledge Series on 22 November, Friday. The title of the Knowledge Series was ‘Building Film Friendly Uttarakhand – Initiatives, Incentives, and the Role of Stakeholders’.
While discussing, film actor and director Anant Mahadevan Narayan praised the simplified shooting process in Uttarakhand. He shared his experience of shooting in the state, from taking shooting permissions to completing the shoot. He also praised every kind of help provided by the local people. He told that just a month ago he shot his film “Past Tense” in Uttarakhand, which also starred Paresh Rawal, Aditya Rawal, Adil Hussain etc. He suggested that the state government should also develop a digital app for shooting locations, which would help in promoting the shooting locations of the state more.
Actor Amit Sial shared his experiences of shooting of the film “Tikadam” in Khurpatal, Nainital district of Uttarakhand. He said that he will always remember the state of Uttarakhand and the warm nature of its people. He said that whenever he gets a chance, he would like to shoot in Uttarakhand again. He praised the new film policy. He said that the film policy is very attractive, other film producers and directors should also come to Uttarakhand for shooting.
Actress Shruti Pawar told about her first shooting experience in Dehradun and said that today the state government is encouraging national and international level films in the state in every way through the film policy. Describing Uttarakhand as “No less than Switzerland”, highlighting the state’s excellent shooting locations and the full support provided by the state government, She praised the Chief Minister of the state, Pushkar Singh Dhami, for making positive efforts regarding the film industry and implementing the new film policy. She described the “Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024” as an important step for the future.
Filmmaker Anupam Sharma from Australia said that he is producing a biopic on the famous Australian country singer of Indian origin, Bobby Cash. Half of the shooting of this film will be done in Australia and half in Uttarakhand. He that this will bring international recognition to Uttarakhand. He praised the efforts of the state government and particularly the work being done by the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for the film industry.
Detailed information about Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 was given by Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Joint Chief Executive Officer and Nodal Officer of Uttarakhand Film Development Council. He said that the new Film Policy 2024 has been implemented in accordance with the guidance and vision of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He said that the new film policy focuses on the principle of 3T (Talent-Technology and Training).
Dr Upadhyay shared that the work of creating a location and resource directory is already going on in Uttarakhand. A national website is being created under the Indian Cine Hub, an institution of the Government of India, in which the locations and resources of Uttarakhand are being updated. The film industry is being developed at the local level. Work is being done keeping in mind the employment generation related to films at the local level. The Knowledge Series was conducted by Senior IRS Officer, Chief Income Tax Commissioner Bhopal Maya Maheshwari.
On this occasion, the Joint Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr. Nitin Upadhyay presented a memento to all the guests on the stage.
Film producer and director Shalini Shah, actor and senior journalist Satish Sharma, Om Prakash Bhatt, senior officials of NFDC and representatives of other states participating in the film market were present in the program.
