France wants to attract Indian filmmakers to choose from one of its many exotic locations. “France is safe, a cost-effective destination and an exciting place to shoot films,” said Franck Priot, Deputy Director of Film France, which is the Film Commission of France.
Tax rebate
Addressing a press conference, organised here on Thursday by Film France in collaboration with the Embassy of France in India and the Consulate General of France in Puducherry, Mr. Priot said that not many foreign filmmakers are taking advantage of the tax rebate offered by the government. Since 2009, TRIP (Tax Rebate for International Productions) offers any production house that spends at least one million Euros in France a tax rebate of 20 per cent.
From suggesting French producers who will give recommendations about the locations to charging no fee for shooting at Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral to offering a choice of 15,000 locations, France wants to change the public impression that it is an expensive place. Since 2005, nearly 20 Indian movies were filmed in France, he said.
Film France honoured film personalities who visited France for their movies. They included actor-dancer Vyjayanthimala Bali, who was the lead actor of the Hindi film Sangam – the first Indian film to be shot in France; actor Kamal Haasan and director K.S. Ravi Kumar for shooting Manmadhan Ambu ; and the team of Asal (Producer Ram Kumar Ganesan, filmmaker Saran and script writer Yuhi Sethu).
Pierre Fournier, Consul General of France in Puducherry, said the two countries have a shared passion, desire and enthusiasm to work together and much more should be done to enhance the ties. Max Claudet, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of France, French producers and representatives from the Film Federation of India spoke.
