I&B Ministry to meet indie film-makers next month

A meeting is slated to take place between cinema representatives and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) to discuss issues concerning Indian parallel cinema. In mid-October, this year, a group of film-makers representing different language cinemas, including National Award winners Aparna Sen, Onir and Ashutosh Gowariker, who had jointly filed an online petition to the I&B Ministry to bring to their notice the challenges of exhibition faced by independent films and film-makers.

Elaborating on the development, film director and writer Onir said, "I got an email from the Ministry recently, that they'll inform us about the date for the meeting, which may take place early next month. I am looking forward to meeting Manish Tewari, I&B Minister, to discuss the issues."

The aim of the petition is to convince the authorities to provide a percentage of the monies allotted by the government on the occasion of 100 years of Indian cinema to build mini theatres for non-commercial and independent movies.

Onir also added, "His (Tewari) speech at NFDC's Film Bazaar in Goa was really encouraging, where he recognised different exhibition possibilities for regional or indie films. Hope something comes out of it."

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