Cannes, 17 May 2023: Pooja Sharma, chairperson, Sikkim Film Promotion Board, Government of Sikkim, as part of the Indian delegation, participated in an important panel discussion during the inaugural ceremony of the India Pavilion at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, Cannes on 17th May 2023.
The India Pavilion was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, GoI, Dr. L. Murugan, who is also leading the Indian delegation to Cannes Film Festival this year. The inauguration session was attended by Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, Actresses Sara Ali Khan, Esha Gupta and Urvashi Rautela.
Sharma participated in the Session on Film Shooting & Film Production in India under the topic: India: The Complete Filming Destination”. She briefed the crowd about the various opportunities and uniqueness of the NorthEast India as a Film shooting destination and the initiatives undertaken by Sikkim Government under the dynamic and proactive leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang in Film and Entertainment sector.
The Session was moderated by Ramkumar, Invest India-FFO, NFDC.
Others on the dais included: Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of 1&8 & Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation, Government of India; Vikas Kharge, Principal Secretary Culture of Govt of Maharashtra; Avinash Thakney, M.D Film City. Numerous initiatives have been taken by both the Federal and State governments in India to facilitate filming in the country.
The Government has been proactive in providing facilities and support to creators, whether it be for filming, post-production, or digital and video effects. The private industry has also stepped up, with an abundance of creative talent and cutting-edge equipment, not to mention breathtaking locations to bring diverse story ideas to life. Moreover, the recently announced incentive schemes by the Federal and State governments have made it financially advantageous to produce films in India.
The Session discussed the efforts being made to establish India as a complete filming destination. The discussion focused on the major initiatives taken by various stakeholders, including both the central and state governments as well as the private sector. The session aimed to answer questions regarding what more can be done to further promote India as a filming destination and how to improve the ease of doing business.
Sharma wore a Sikkimese traditional- contemporary mix attire creation by designer Tshering Dolma ‘The House of Kyido’ to showcase and promote Sikkim’s own culture and tradition mixed with the fusion of the contemporary World of today.