The government’s push towards promoting the country as a filming destination for foreign films seems to be working, with the number of permissions given to foreign film-makers to shoot movies and TV shows in India seeing a steady increase in the past three years.

Responding to an RTI query filed by BusinessLine , the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said about 96 international movies and TV shows received permissions to shoot in India in the past three years.

Foreign film crews from the US, the UK, France, Germany, Iran, China, Switzerland, Canada, Israel, Argentina, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Italy, among others, bagged approvals to shoot films here. Even TV shows such as Silicon Valley , The Amazing Race and Expedition Unknown were given shooting permits.

In 2014, 25 international movies were given sanctions, while in 2015, about 30 such permissions were granted. In 2016, the Ministry doled out as many as 41 permits to foreign film-makers to shoot in India.

While entertainment is among the 25 sectors being promoted under the Make in India policy, the Ministry has also been hard-selling India as a filming destination at global film festivals such as Cannes.

In November 2015, Film Facilitation Offices were set up under the premises of National Film Development Corporation in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. These offices assist foreign film-makers in getting the requisite authorisations and information on locations apt for shooting.

In addition, the government has set up a single-window clearance mechanism for quicker processing of permits. Last year, the I&B Ministry had asked States to appoint nodal officers to remove roadblocks in getting these sanctions. The Ministry also instituted the ‘Most Film Friendly State Award’ to be given out at the National Film Awards.

India has signed co-production deals with several countries including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy and Canada, and plans to sign similar pacts with Portugal, Russia and South Africa.

Published on January 20, 2017