India, Ukraine to strengthen bilateral cooperation through cinema

New Delhi [India], Feb.27 (ANI): India and Ukraine have agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries through the medium of cinema. The cooperation would be worked out through a policy and institutional framework to showcase films through the medium of film festivals and utilizing the film facilitation office platform established by India. The screening of films with subtitles was also discussed in order to reach out to people. These issues were discussed during the meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Ukrainian delegation led by Iurii Artemenko, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine and Chairman of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine today in New Delhi. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore and Secretary Inormation and Broadcasting were also present during the discussions. Naidu said his ministry would extend all possible support to promote exchange programs between public broadcasters of the two countries, content creation, screening and distribution of films. The possibility of translating programs and content and providing subtitles in respective languages of both the countries was also discussed with respect to the Public Broadcasters of both the countries. Naidu also apprised the delegation about the film facilitation office recently setup in the ministry to facilitate single window clearance for film makers. The FFO Act as a facilitation point for film producers and assist them in obtaining requisite permissions, disseminate information on shooting locales as well as the facilities available with the Indian film industry for production/post production. Artemenko, said that the Ukraine Government is making efforts to organise an Indian Film Festival in Ukraine to promote cultural ties between the two countries through the medium of cinema. He extended a personal invitation to Naidu to attend the film festival to be organised in the near future. He also expressed interest for showcasing programmes based on Indian weddings, places of touristic interest such as Rajasthan and different Indian cuisines. Deliberations were also held for organising film festivals showcasing each other's movies in respective countries and the possibility of participating in film festivals as partner countries. (ANI)