NFDC to become single-window clearance point for film shoots

A single window clearance system in India is a dream that will become a reality for filmmakers across the world. A Film Facilitation Office will be operated by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), eliminating all channels of bureaucracy and multiple stops for getting clearance for a film's shoot.

The move of making NFDC a 'single-window clearance' system will be formally announced on Saturday at the forthcoming Film Bazaar here.

The annual film market, which is organised alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), is held from November 20-24.

Giving an impetus to the development, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will launch the logo of the Film Facilitation Office, read a statement.

The move aims to remove all obstacles and hassles while obtaining permission for filming and attracting more international filmmakers -- and thus be a step towards making India a global filming destination.

Film Bazaar, organised by NFDC, will hold a Film Tourism Symposium, presented by the ministry of tourism in association with the ministry of information and broadcasting and NFDC, to give a road map to the Film Facilitation Office.

The symposium will delve into the economic potential of film tourism in the country as a whole. It will include sessions with the ministry of tourism, ministry of information and broadcasting, Archaeological Survey of India, ministry of home affairs and the ministry of railways.

Another key objective of the 9th edition of the film market is to make India a filming-friendly destination and promote film tourism in India.

Nina Lath Gupta, managing director of NFDC India, said: "Tourism is one of the highlights of our country and we think it's important to showcase this to the filmmakers in India and internationally as well.

"We will also address key concerns filmmakers face mainly for outdoor location shoots. This year, we have initiated these segments in the Bazaar to specially focus on travel and promote India as a film-friendly destination."

To this end, Film Bazaar for the first time will be organising film tourism workshops, film tourism symposium and filming in India sessions in the knowledge series apart from the film offices that were introduced last year.

There will be special sessions on 'Filming In India', where renowned filmmakers will share their experiences of filming in the various states of India and how the state facilitated it for them.

Some of the names are Anurag Basu talking about Chhattisgarh, Prakash Jha about Madhya Pradesh, Shoojit Sircar on Gujarat, Rohan Sippy on Maharashtra, Karthik Subbaraj on Tamil Nadu, Karan Malhotra on Daman and Surajit Bose on West Bengal.

This year the participants are Chhattisgarh Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Gujarat Tourism, Maharashtra - Film City, West Bengal Tourism, Tamil Nadu Tourism, Daman & Diu Tourism and Puducherry. Incredible India will also set up their office at the Film Offices this year.