The
Information
&
Broadcasting
Ministry
has
assured
the
film
fraternity
that
suitable
amendments
would
be
proposed
to
the
Cinematograph
Act
1952
to
combat
film
piracy.
Addressing
a
Consultation
Meeting
of
Film
Associations
through
video
conferencing,
I&B
Secretary
Shri
Apurva
Chandra
said
the
issues
with
respect
to
proposed
Cinematograph
Amendment
Bill
and
anti-piracy
issues
will
be
addressed
after
consultation
with
the
stakeholders
of
the
industry.
Today’s
meeting
in
Mumbai
followed
a
similar
consultation
with
the
film
fraternity
from
South
India,
held
in
Chennai
yesterday.
An
Expert
Committee
under
the
Chairmanship
of
Justice
Mukul
Mudgal
was
constituted
in
2013
to
examine
the
issues
of
certification
under
the
Cinematograph
Act,
1952.
Another
Committee
of
Experts
was
set
up
under
the
Chairmanship
of
Shri
Shyam
Benegal
in
2016
to
evolve
broad
guidelines
for
certification
within
the
ambit
of
the
Cinematograph
Act
and
Rules.
Among
the
recommendations
is
the
age
based
certification
of
films.
Secretary
Chandra
also
spoke
about
the
merger
of
four
film
media
units
namely
Films
Division,
Directorate
of
Film.
Festivals,
National
Film
Archives
of
India,
and
Children's
Film
Society,
India
with
the
National
Film
Development
Corporation
(NFDC)
Ltd.
He
expressed
that
the
basic
objective
is
NFDC
should
become
the
entity
through
which
the
revenues
from
the
film
sector
can
be
utilized
for
development
of
the
film
sector.
He
went
on
to
say
that
none
of
the
existing
schemes
is
being
discontinued.
“We
will
strengthen
NFDC
so
that
they
can
rotate
staff
and
deliver
on
the
responsibilities
assigned
to
them.”
Speaking
about
the
Finance
Minister's
announcement
of
setting
up
an
Animation,
Visual
Effects,
Gaming,
and
Comic
(AVGC)
Promotion
Task
Force,
he
informed
that
the
Ministry
is
working
on
its
Terms
of
Reference.
“We
hope
to
set
up
this
Task
Force
in
this
month
itself,
so
that
work
can
begin
and
we
are
able
to
utilize
the
potential
of
the
sunrise
sector.”
Shri
Chandra
expressed
happiness
that
the
industry
is
satisfied
with
the
streamlining
of
the
film
certification
processes
by
CBFC.
Additional
Secretary
I&B,
Ms.
Neerja
Shekhar
informed
that
comments
of
stakeholders
and
the
general
public
have
been
received
regarding
suggestions
on
further
improving
the
certification
process
of
CBFC.
Chairperson,
CBFC
Prasoon
Joshi
said
that
the
change
in
design
of
the
film
certificate
is
symbolic
of
what
the
Board
seeks
to
achieve,
in
terms
of
making
processes
seamless,
digital
and
more
stakeholder-friendly.
“The
process
of
certification
has
been
smoothened
as
much
as
possible;
while
we
continue
to
need
human
intervention
for
watching
the
films
and
certifying
it,
we
have
streamlined
the
system
so
as
to
speed
up
other
parts
of
the
process”
he
added.
Shri
Ravindra
Bhakar,
CEO,
CBFC,
briefed
about
the
journey
of
the
certification
body
and
its
adaptations
in
view
of
new
challenges.
He
also
spoke
about
the
digitisation
in
certification
process
and
move
towards
further
transparency
and
measures
towards
ease
of
doing
business.
II.
Government
focusing
on
increasing
screen
density.
Single
window
clearance
for
setting
up
theatres
soon
-
I&B
Additional
Secretary,
Neerja
Shekhar
Additional
Secretary
Neerja
Shekhar,
who
chaired
the
meeting,
discussed
the
initiatives
taken
by
the
Ministry
and
various
central
sector
schemes
being
implemented
with
respect
to
the
film
industry
including
incentives
for
shooting
foreign
films
in
India
and
organising
a
global
media
&
entertainment
summit.
She
also
pointed
out
the
requirement
for
increasing
the
density
of
screens.
“The
Government
is
planning
to
come
up
with
single
window
clearances
for
opening
of
film
theatres
and
also
for
event
management.”
She
also
informed
that
ideas
are
being
sought
for
setting
up
rural
theatres
and
mobile
screens
in
order
to
achieve
this
objective.
“We
are
going
to
work
in
a
big
way
in
increasing
theatre
density,
in
collaboration
with
states
and
UTs,”
she
mentioned.
Ms.
Shekhar
also
spoke
about
the
incentives
under
audio
visual
services
of
Champion
Services
Sector
Scheme.
“Audio
Visual
Services
is
one
of
the
12
champion
service
sectors
which
the
government
seeks
to
promote,”
she
said.
The
Government
has
approved
financial
incentives
for
co-production
of
films
in
countries
with
which
India
has
co-production
agreements.
“For
audio
visual
co-production
with
foreign
countries,
reimbursement
of
up
to
Rs.
2
crore
or
30%
for
Rs.
25
crore
budget
film
is
available.
Similar
incentive
is
available
for
shooting
foreign
films
in
India.”
III.
Participation
of
Indian
Films
and
Production
Houses
in
Foreign
Film
Festivals
Regarding
participation
of
Indian
films
and
filmmakers
in
foreign
film
festivals,
the
Additional
Secretary
said
that
there
is
a
need
to
increase
screening
of
Indian
films
at
international
film
festivals
and
showcase
India’s
soft
power.
“We
need
specific
content
from
industry
which
helps
showcase
Indian
films
to
foreign
countries
where
the
demand
for
Indian
films
is
present.”
She
stressed
the
need
to
focus
on
specific
markets
which
demand
Indian
content.
Around
50
representatives
of
film
associations
attended
today’s
meeting
and
participated
in
the
consultation
process.