The State government has decided to set up a film institute and convention centre with global standards on build-operate-transfer (BOT) system to help spur the development of the film industry.
Minister for Cinematography and Dairy Development Talasani Srinivas Yadav said after a review meeting with the officials of Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC) here on Tuesday the they were taking steps to implement the decisions at the earliest since Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was keen on encouraging all those who were depending on the film industry.
He stated that it was decided to acquire 50 to 100 acres land for the construction of the film institute to provide training to those interested in the industry. Candidates from across the country and overseas would also be given residential training at the institute.
To encourage low budget films in the State, it was also decided to allow fifth show (screening) of such films every day and the necessary orders would be issued by the month-end. It was also being proposed to give permissions and clearances required for film shootings through single-window system by the TSFDC.
The agency would process the application for shootings by pursuing the matter with various departments and issue clearances within 7 days and if not done in the prescribed time the applicants could take all permissions as deemed to have been given on the eighth day and could start shootings, the minister explained stating that it would be on the lines of TS-iPASS.
The minister assured a decision on the online ticketing system to avoid evasion of entertainment tax by exhibitors by linking all screens (cinema halls) online with the TSFDC very soon. The meeting also took a decision to encourage mini-theatres with 200 seating capacity in towns, commercial complexes, bus depots and government building complexes to encourage the industry, the minister said.
A committee led by Advisor (Culture) to Government K.V. Ramanachary would meet soon to take a decision on changing the name of Nandi awards. Stating that construction of houses for 4,300 cine artistes would be taken up in Chitrapuri Colony the minister noted that the government would provide necessary infrastructure.
