Goa filmmakers want prime time slots for Konkani films

Goa-based filmmakers today asked the State Government to bring a law to make it mandatory for local theatres to provide certain slots and prime time screening of Konkani films to promote the regional cinema.
The movie makers made the demand in a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar here.
"We would like to bring to your notice that due to adamant behaviour of film distributors, theatres in Goa are not made available for screening of Konkani films," they told Parsekar in the memorandum.
"We demand that a legislation be brought to make it mandatory for theatres to reserve at least one slot daily during prime time (between 6-7 pm) for Konkani films.

"Additional slots can be given as per mutual understanding between producers and theatre owners at concessional rates," the filmmakers said.
The memorandum was submitted by a group of filmmakers under the banner of Goa Film Finance Committee. It comprised artists like John D'Silva, Rajdeep Naik and Prince Jacob among others.

They pointed out that the Government is yet to notify the film financing scheme for local films that was supposed to be implemented through Entertainment Society of Goa. "It is sad, but indeed true, the film finance scheme for Goan films is not yet notified."
They demanded that shooting locations be made available at concessional rates for Konkani films.

"It is observed that an amount of Rs 10,000 per day is obtained from producers for shooting in Goa. The amount should be reduced to Rs 1,000 per day for Goan films."
The memorandum also demanded construction of new theatres at different locations in Goa to popularise the local cinema.