18/02/2009

In an attempt to cash in on the Slumdog Millionaire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danny Boyle
film profile] wave and capitalise on the recent Indo-UK co-production treaty, the UK Film Council (UKFC), in association with UK Trade and Investment, has taken the first ever UK export delegation to Mumbai for the annual FICCI Frames Entertainment Conference.

The delegation – which includes Assassin Films, Atlantic Film Group, Blueprint Pictures, Dan Films, Europa Cinemas, HanWay Films, Headline Pictures, Olsberg SPI, Origin Pictures and Prescience Film Finance – have projects that need Indian creative and business input.

In addition, the UKFC organised a seminar to discuss the treaty and how best to use the UK’s strength in international film sales. Panellists include Jonathan Olsberg (Olsberg SPI), Shekhar Kapur, Tim Haslam (HanWay), David Thompson (Origin Pictures), Vijay Singh (Fox STAR), VB Pyarelal (Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and Isabel Davis (UKFC). The seminar will also look at how working with the UK can help to increase the international value of a film, financing opportunities available in the UK, potential UK partners and how to develop UK-Indian creative partnerships.

Sarah McKenzie, the UKFC’s Senior Executive for Export Development said, “The global success of Slumdog Millionaire shows what can be achieved when UK and Indian filmmakers collaborate on projects. The export delegation to India should help more UK businesses develop closer links with India, a market which is expanding all the time.”

In 2007, the Indian entertainment and media industry grew by 17% reaching an estimated size of Rupees 513bn (€8.2bn) up from Rupees 438bn (€7bn) in 2006.