India and France will sign an agreement to boost co-production of films between the two countries during the ongoing visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The agreement is expected to boost cooperation in the field of film production and help the two countries to gain from experience of their respective film industries. Union information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni and French culture and information minister Federic Mitterand will sign an agreement on behalf of the two governments at Hyderabad House on Monday.
Official sources stated that the agreement with France has been finalised after several rounds of consultations and interaction between the two countries. The agreement is expected to help the two countries film industry in gaining access to latest and better film production technology.
The countries have a rich history and culture of film production with India producing the largest number films in the world and France a leading film producing nation of Europe.
Sources stated that the agreement will also have a provision for multilateral coproduction of films. “Which essentially means that a co-produced film between India and France can simultaneously be a co-produced film between other countries,” sources added. A co-produced film between India and France, can simultaneously be treated as a co-produced film between India and any third country with whom we have a co-production agreement, sources stated. It can also be treated as a co-produced film between France and another third country with whom France has entered into a co-production agreement.
“The provisions for multilateral co-productions exist in the Indo-UK, Indo-Germany and Indo-Brazil co-production agreements,” sources added.
Official sources stated that the agreement part of I&B ministry’s efforts to showcase the country as a filming destination before foreign producers.
As part of implementing this plan the ministry has already accorded permission for shooting of about 100 feature films by foreign producers during the last three years.
Some of the notable ones include Slumdog Millionaire, Eat Pray Love and A Mighty Heart.