Films competing at Oscars, fests to get promotion funds

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday announced that the ministry will provide Film Promotion Fund to films selected as Indias official entry to Academy Awards under the Best Foreign Language Film category. Money will also be available for movies which are selected in any competition section of an international film festival.

Naidu made the announcement at the press conference for the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will take place from November 20-28 in Goa.

Indian films representing the nation at Oscars will get Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Vetrimaaran's Tamil docudrama crime-thriller film "Visaranai" will represent India in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards.

Filmmakers representing their films at the Cannes Film Festival in the competition section will get Rs 20 lakh to promote their films, while in Un Certain Regard and Directors Fortnight, the promotion fund would be Rs 15 lakh each.

Similarly, funds would be provided to filmmakers whose movies would compete in various categories at Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival and International Film Festival of Rotterdam, among others.

The initiative will take care of expenses like engagement of a publicist, travel of director, producer and key talent to be present at the red carpet and press meets, accommodation, screenings, advertising, networking, technical material and creation and promotion of marketing material.

This is being done to promote Indian cinema in the international arena and especially help independent filmmakers to promote their work.

--IANS

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