By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 7 Nov: During the Pravasi Uttarakhandi Conference at Doon University, a special session was held on promoting Uttarakhand’s local culture, art, and films. The session focused on various aspects of developing the state as an important center for film shooting and efforts to preserve local culture.
Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024: Subsidy for Regional Films
Banshidhar Tiwari, CEO of the Uttarakhand Film Development Council and Director General of Information, highlighted the state government’s initiatives and stated that Uttarakhand offers several attractive film shooting locations that could attract filmmakers from both India and abroad. He shared details about the recently launched Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024, which offers a 50% subsidy (up to a maximum of ?2 crore) on the production costs of regional language films. For Hindi and other languages listed in the 8th Schedule, the subsidy is 30% or up to ?3 crore. The new policy also includes short films, documentaries, OTT shows, and web series in the subsidy category. Additionally, provisions have been made for setting up a Film City and Film Institute in the state with financial support.
Preserving Culture and Heritage Through Films
Tiwari emphasized that films play an important role in preserving our history, civilization, and cultural heritage. He pointed out that festivals like Phooldeyi, ancient fairs, and local languages can be safeguarded and promoted through films. Locations such as Adi Kailash, Chakrata, and Mana were also mentioned as ideal places for film shoots.
Doon University Vice Chancellor’s Message to Youth
The Vice Chancellor of Doon University, Prof Surekha Dangwal, spoke about the establishment of a Theatre and Folk Arts Department at the university, which has brought in renowned artists like Narendra Singh Negi. Prof Dangwal emphasized that this initiative provides a golden opportunity for the youth to learn from the state’s famous artists and build their careers in the field of art.
Prominent Figures Share Their Thoughts at the Conference
The conference also saw the participation of several prominent personalities from the film industry, including National award-winning film Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, Folk Singer Narendra Singh Negi, Actors Sudhir Pandey, Hemant Pandey, Varun Badola, and Producer Santosh Singh Rawat, who shared their experiences and discussed the potential for film production in Uttarakhand.
The conference served as a positive step towards the growth of the film industry in the state, with a vision of making Uttarakhand a prominent film shooting hub and a vital center for cultural preservation.
