MUMBAI: The UK Film Council, supported by UK Trade and Investment, (UKTI) is bringing the first ever UK export delegation to Mumbai from 16-21 February to meet with Mumbai companies and attend the FICCI Frames entertainment conference from 16-19 February.
Post the success of Slumdog Millionaire and with the UK India co-production treaty now in place, the UK film industry is seizing opportunities to develop closer working relationships with the Indian industry to progress exciting new projects and business opportunities. The delegation is in Mumbai to develop partnerships through meetings and visits with Indian production, service and facilities companies.
The export delegation of UK sales, production, facilities and service companies, 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 and commercial interests which require Indian creative and business input.
The UK Film Council is also organising a seminar at Frames on co-production between the UK and India, making best use of the new treaty, and promoting UK’s strength within international film sales. The panel will be chaired by Jonathan Olsberg (Olsberg SPI) and will include Shekhar Kapur, Tim Haslam (HanWay), David Thompson (Origin Pictures), Vijay Singh (Fox STAR), Dina Dattani (consultant), VB Pyarelal (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and Isabel Davis (UK Film Council).
The seminar will take place on 18 February and will address 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.
UK Film Council senior executive Export Development Sarah McKenzie 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."
