Government boosts domestic film festivals & global Indian content

The government has issued guidelines for providing financial assistance to domestic film festivals through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the ‘Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC)’ Scheme. Additionally, guidelines have been set for the release of funds to Indian Missions/Posts via the NFDC to promote Indian Cinema under the DCDFC Scheme.

These guidelines aim to streamline the allocation of financial assistance to film festivals nationwide, acknowledging the vital role these festivals play in fostering cultural exchange, artistic expression, and cinema appreciation.

The purpose of these guidelines is to establish clear criteria and procedures for supporting film festivals. They are designed to create a structured framework for allocating financial assistance to festivals organized or supported by State Governments nationwide.

“By providing financial assistance, we seek to bolster the vitality of the film festival ecosystem, fostering an environment where filmmakers can showcase their work and audiences can engage with diverse cinematic experiences. These guidelines are designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the allocation of resources, ultimately contributing to the growth and sustainability of film culture in our society,” mentioned the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s notification issued on 4 July.

The government, through these guidelines, wishes to facilitate the sustainable growth of film festivals, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities for filmmakers and audiences alike, the notification added.

Encouraging Indian content globally
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seeks to position India as a prime filming destination by creating the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) and introducing an incentive scheme for foreign productions and official co-productions.

Working alongside Indian missions and consulates worldwide, the Ministry aims to bolster India’s soft power through Indian cinema and boost the presence of Indian films at major international film festivals.

These guidelines aim to promote Indian cinema through Indian Missions by providing financial assistance via the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Ministry of External Affairs under the Development, Communication, and Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) Scheme.

The government has also listed the countries included in the notification. This list features Australia, China, Israel, Brazil, Armenia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Argentina, Norway, the UK, France, Portugal, Morocco, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Nigeria, Italy, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, Iraq, South Korea, and others.

The countries have been divided into four categories: ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’. Financial assistance will be provided annually for each category, with amounts of Rs 80 lakh for Category ‘A’, R 40 lakh for Category ‘B’, Rs 20 lakh for Category ‘C’, and Rs 10 lakh for Category ‘D’.  Everything Experiential