India adds Germany to its film co-production partners

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) The film production in the country is looking for and acquiring international allies in a big way.

The latest on the list is Germany.

Indian film makers and producers will be able to enjoy the support, benefits and privileges available to German films in their country under an agreement on audio-visual co-production signed with the European country.

Earlier, similar agrements have been signed with the United Kingdom and Italy.

A Ministry of Information and Broadcasting spokesperson said talks for co-production with China and Canada were also in their final stages.

Under the agreement with Germany, films produced in the two countries will be deemed national films and be entitled to claim the all state support, benefits and privileges available to the film and video industries in force in the countries.

In the case of multilateral co-productions, the minority contribution may not be less than 10 per cent and the majority contribution may not exceed 70 per cent of the total cost of the film.

Even those films, which are produced in one of the two countries and where the minority contribution is limited to financial investment, may be granted co-production status, according to this agreement.

Contribution of the co-production partners include at least one leading actor, one supporting actor and/or one qualified technical staff person.

The original soundtrack of each co-production film will be made in Hindi language or any regional dialect or in English or German or in any combination of the languages.

The expenses incurred in the territories of both countries for the promotion of co-productions will be compensated within two years of the completion of the project.

A Joint Commission, comprising representatives from the government and from the film, television and video industries of both countries, will supervise and review the implementation and operation of the Agreement.

For approved co-productions, each country will facilitate entry into and temporary residence in its territory for technical and artistic personnel of the other country as well as the import into and export from its territory of technical and other film making equipment and materials by producers of the other country.

Applications for qualification of a film for co-production benefits must be made simultaneously to the competent authorities in both countries at least 30 days before the shooting begins.

They should be accompanied by the final scripts and synopsis, documentary proof of having legally acquired the rights to produce the co-production and a copy of the co-production contract signed by the two co-producers for the sharing of revenues, markets, media or a combination of these.

The agreeement was signed by Minister of information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and German Foreign Minister Dr Frank- Walter Steinmeie in Berlin last week.

UNI