Berlin, Feb 20 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday evening inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2020.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Dr Jaishankar said that the medium of cinema has potential to build collaboration and partnerships between India and the world.
Co-production agreements, the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) and India’s premier Film Festival – IFFI – have showcased India as an emerging market and a filming destination.
It has opened opportunities for excellence in different aspects of film making.
The EAM also mentioned that India’s partnership at Berlinale offered tremendous opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relationship in vertical of film making and taking forward the co-production platform.
Dr Jaishankar also invited Berlinale participants, directors and film makers to participate at the 51st IFFI through films, delegations and partnerships.
The Minister also unveiled the poster for the 51st edition of India International Film Festival to be celebrated in Goa this year, along with its booklet. Subsequently, the delegation released Pickle Magazine at the pavilion.
Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany; Mukta Dutta Tomar, Joint secretary (films) in the Information and Broadcasting T C A Kalyani, Joint secretary in office of the External Affairs Minister Shilpak Ambule, Deputy chief of mission in the Embassy of India in Berlin Paramita Tripathi, Additional director in the directorate of film festivals Chaitanya Prasad , Deputy Secretary (films) Dhanpreet Kaur and Executive director of the Confederation of Indian Industry Neerja Bhattia, were also present on the occasion.
The poster and brochure of IFFI 2020 was also inaugurated by the dignitaries during the inaugural ceremony.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry, in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry, is participating in the Berlin International Film Festival being held from February 19 to March 1 at Berlin.
An India Pavilion is being set-up at the Festival to act as a platform to popularize Indian Cinema in overseas market and facilitate new business opportunities.
The Indian Delegation at Berlinale 2020 aims to promote Indian films across linguistic cultural and regional diversity so as to forge international partnerships in the realms of distribution, production, filming in India, script development and technology, in order to accelerate the growth of film sector in India.
The Delegation will also promote the 51st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) along with popularizing the steps taken to ease shooting films in India through Film Facilitation Office that facilitates Single Window Clearance for film-makers and provides the platform for ‘film tourism’ in India.
To take advantage of availability of technicians and skilled professionals, India will be showcased as a post-production hub to promote collaborations for films with international production houses.
The Indian Delegation will meet officials from countries including Israel, Portugal, South Africa, USA, Germany, France, and UK.
The delegation will also meet with officials from Raindance Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, EFM Director, Cannes Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, among others.
UNI AR ADG 1844