The Goa government, along with the Entertainment Society of Goa, who are the organisers of the ongoing International Film Festival of India, are going all out to woo filmmakers. While many Bollywood and Marathi films are shot here, the ESG now wants a part of the South Indian film industry pie as well. After noted filmmaker Yash Chopra lashed out at the Goa government and ESG about their lackadaisical approach towards promoting the seaside state as a prime destination for shooting, ESG’s chief executive officer, Manoj Srivastava, on Wednesday announced tax sops for filmmakers. “We are considering offering tax reimbursement to filmmakers keen on shooting in Goa,” Srivastava said on Wednesday, adding, “We are looking at ways to return the tax amount to producers after they produce their bills after completing shooting in Goa.”
“I am echoing the sentiments of Yash Chopra who has also expressed a need for relaxation of taxes,” Srivastava said during a day-long seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry on the sidelines of Iffi 2010 in Panaji.
About wooing South Indian producers, Srivastava pointed out that they usually shot in their own states or abroad. “We need to push our financial schemes in film producing regions outside Goa and we will be doing it,” he added.