Lok Sabha Question No. 4233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Promotion of Regional Film Industries
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Dhanush M Kumar, Soyam Babu Rao, Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4233

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2019

## PROMOTION OF REGIONAL FILM INDUSTRIES

4233.  SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI SOYAM BAPU RAO:

SHRI SELVAM G:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  regional  film  industries  in  the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  success  achieved  therein  along  with  the mechanism developed so far to promote regional films and music in the country and abroad;
- (c) the mechanism adopted /developed to promote regional films in the country and abroad;
- (d) whether any consultation has been held with the States for the development and promotion of regional film industries in the country, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (e) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  restore,  digitalise,  preserve  and enhance  public  access  to  the  archival  wealth  of  films  of  the  regional  film industry?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR):

(a) to (d) Yes Sir, Film Promotion Fund, set up by the Government in 2017 provides financial assistance to the independent Indian filmmakers  to  promote  their  films  at  International  Film  Festivals across the world, thereby promoting Indian cinema in the international arena.  Financial assistance is provided to the filmmakers once their films are selected in International Film Festivals or events like Oscars.

Every  year,  Ministry  of  Information  &  Broadcasting  organizes National  Film  Awards  wherein  films  from  across  the  country  in Hindi/Regional Languages are awarded under different categories.

Also, every year, films are selected for Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).  From these entries, 47 films,  including  26  Feature  Films  and  21  Non-Feature  Films,  are selected in various Indian languages every year.

Besides,  Ministry  of  Information  &  Broadcasting  Under  the Government's  policy  of  'Ease  of  doing  business'  and  'Digital  India' launched  the  web  portal  www.ffo.gov.in  on  20 th   November,  2018    to create  a  single  window  facilitation  and  clearance  mechanism  that eases the process of filming in India by foreign filmmakers.  This was done with a view to create greater ease in filming in India and at the same  time  endeavouring  to  create  a  film-friendly  ecosystem  and promoting the country as a filming destination.  This facility has been extended to domestic filmmaker from April, 2019.

- (e) National  Film  Archive  of  India  (NFAI)  was  established  in  1964 with the task of preserving the rich cinematographic heritage of the nation.    NFAI  has  digitized  and  restored  several  films  that  are  from regional language.  From time to time, film festivals of regional films are  organized  from  NFAI  collection  at  various  places  in  India  and abroad  for  public  access.  In  addition  to  this  paper  material  like posters,  photographs  etc  are  put  up  on  social  media  for  wider outreach.  Exhibition of posters that includes regional films are also

organized  at  various  places  from  time  to  time  across  India  for dissemination  of  film  culture.    Further  Government  has  launched National Film Heritage Mission, a Central Sector Scheme, to restore, digitize and archive films and filmic material and is being implemented through NFAI.

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