UK film industry team to explore collaboration with producers

Chennai, Nov 25 (UNI) A 12-member team of the United Kingdom film industry representatives will be in Chennai this week to explore collaboration possibilities with film producers, directors, distributors, film studios and film industry professionals here. At a half-day workshop, in the city, later this week, the UK team will share their thoughts on how specific partnerships can be built using the Indo-UK Film Co-Production Treaty that came into force recently.

Mr Mike Connor, British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India, said, ''The workshop, UK-India Film Collaboration: The Way Forward, will discuss the details of the Treaty, explain how projects can qualify under the Treaty, the tax and other financial benefits to local industry and offer a snapshot of the legal landscape for Indo-UK co-productions.

Sessions will also cover how local industry can make films in the UK and access funds from the UK for co-productions, he said.

''The UK's world-class production sector has a turnover of over 2.6 billion US dollar and I am delighted that, increasingly, Indian studios and productions are working with the UK professionals and in the UK. Radaan's Siragugal (Tamil), shot entirely in London, emerged as a popular telefilm. AkasaGopuram, a Malayalam film directed by national Award-winning Director K P Kumaran, was shot in the UK. CEE (I) TV Entertainment Limited has shot close to 25 films in the UK,'' he said.

Padmashree, Kamal Haasan will deliver the Special Address at the workshop.

The visiting UK team represents a very wide range of expertise.

For example, Crispin Buxton from Spinfilm Limited, with an experience of over two decades as Location Manager, Associate Director and Line Producer, has credits that include Mr Bean and the Oscar/BAFTA winning The Last King of Scotland.

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