Uttarakhand is fast becoming a major destination for shooting of films thanks to the facilities the state government is providing in the matter, said the additional director Information and additional chief executive officer of Uttarakhand Film Development Board (UFDB) Anil Chandola while addressing a workshop on the occasion of the Film Bazaar-2018 organised by the Union ministry of Information and Broadcasting undertaking National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in Goa.
Notably, the workshop was organised to provide detailed information on the facilities being given for film shooting in Uttarakhand on Thursday.
Eminent film producers/directors of the country and abroad and representatives of 11 states participated in the workshop.
Chandola gave a detailed presentation during the workshop on the Uttarakhand film policy as framed by the state government to facilitate shooting of films.
He said that the permission is being given by the state government to shoot films under a single window system. The fee for shooting of films has also been abolished, he added.
He further said that Uttarakhand Film Development Council is being made more active in pursuance of the policy. The natural and picturesque sites of the state are being identified for shooting, he said and added that new shooting sites in the state are being explored and data in this regard is being collected.
Chandola said that Uttarakhand has been the first preference for film producers/directors. Even before the formation of the state, big banner films had been shot in Harshil, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Nainital, he informed during the workshop.
Answering the queries of the film producers/directors during the workshop, the deputy director Information/nodal officer, Uttarkhand Film Development Council K S Chauhan said that arrangements have been made to provide many attractive facilities for the film industry as part of the film policy being implemented in the state.
Since the implementation of the film policy-2015, permission for shooting of about 150 films, TVs serials and documentary has been granted and they include movies and serials of the big banners as well, he said. Chauhan appealed to the NFDC authorities that the offices of the government of India based in Uttarakhand should be issued instructions at the level of the Centre to facilitate shooting at these places as well.
Film and Television Producer Guild of India CEO Mumbai Kulmeet Makkar and managing director of Indian Motion Picture Association, Mumbai Uday Singh also addressed the workshop.
They heaped praise on the film policy being implemented by the state government and called upon other states to emulate the lead.
Among others who addressed the workshop were the director of the Indian Motion Picture Association Mumbai Lohita Sujit and head of Film Facilitation Office Vikramjit Roy. The workshop was conducted by Kavita Saini.