India’s Entertainment Industry Ready for a Big Boost : Arun Chawla, DG, FICCI.

New Delhi, 23 May 2022: The government of India have announced a host of incentives to boost co-production with other countries in the Cannes, said Arun Chawla, Director General, FICCI.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been focusing on making India the content hub of India and a preferred film shooting destination through its policy interventions. The India Pavilion will showcase and brand India on these lines only.

“Apart from the world premiere of five movies, the India Pavilion will also organize start-up pitching Session ‘Cannes Next’ which is an executive conference and innovation-driven business development platform exploring the future of the entertainment sector. This is a new segment which through a tailor-based series of inspiring conferences, keynotes and panel discussions will help grow the network with creative, clients and tech companies.,” he adds.

When asked about the Chamber’s role in Cannes this year, the FICCI Director General said that they have been managing India Pavilion for the last eight years. The round table meetings with global film festivals, film commissions, film funds and other global production houses are organized for the benefit of Indian delegates. This facilitates the growth of co-production activities between India filmmakers and their global counter parts and encourage opportunities for Indian filmmakers to get picked up for sales agents for international releases, as well as inclusion in various film festivals.

The FICCI Director General also lauded India’s participation in Cannes as it was the largest ever and said that it has become the first official country of honour at Marché du Film being organized alongside the Cannes film festival.

He highlighted that India is emerging as a media and entertainment hub. Traditionally being the largest film industries in the world, we have a thriving ecosystem and manpower base. With lapping up the new areas of digital content, animation, VFX, and online gaming, the industry is valued at USD $28 billion and is projected to reach USD $100 billion by 2030, growing at a compounded rate of 12% per year.

“Media and entertainment as a sector is getting a big push from the Government of India,” he concluded.