Ficci to host Hollywood, Indian film industry icons in US

Industry body Ficci will organise a special session to discuss the future of entertainment by the digital world on September 30 at the University of South California.
The programme will be held at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the US and promoting people to people contact will be an important agenda in his talks with President Obama.
The one-day event 'The Future of Media and Entertainment Building a New Age Global Ecosystem, Challenges and Opportunities' is being organised under the mentorship of internationally renowned film-maker and director Shekhar Kapur in association with law firm Nisith Desai Associates.

There will be prominent speakers from Indian and American conglomerates such as Warner Bros, Disney, Prime Focus, Dolby, Microsoft as well as important Hollywood producers such as Barry Levine. Renowned creative leaders from the Indian film industry such as Shekhar Kapur, director Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Oscar winner Resul Pookutty, as well as the deans of UCLA and USC are expected to speak at this convention.
The Media and Entertainment industry is perhaps the best vehicle to attain this objective. The initiative is also an opportunity to strengthen India-US engagement and facilitate the exploration of future dynamics and synergies between the world's two most vibrant entertainment economies.

"I believe the media and entertainment sector can make a significant contribution to the Indian economy and serve as a harbinger of social change. India is more relevant today in the global Media & Entertainment ecosystem than perhaps any other country but will require new thinking to make better bets and realize that potential," Ficci President Sidharth Birla said.
The discussions will feature substantive topics ranging from business to talent to tax and regulation that will factor in both the Indian and American perspective.