PANAJI: The fourth edition of Film Bazaar India 2010 at the International Film Festival of India concluded on a positive note for greater cooperation in cinema among Saarc countries.
National Film Development Corporation managing director Nina Lath Gupta said all Saarc countries except Maldives were represented. She said that discussions had been fruitful but it was too early to say which countries would enter into collaborations with NFDC.
The annual film market was designed to address the current needs of filmmakers and focused on creating business opportunities for production studios and independent producers/film makers. The idea behind Film Bazaar was to provide a proficient stage for prospective buyers and sellers of film rights from India and abroad. The four-day Film Bazaar India had commenced on 23 November at Goa Marriott Resort.
For the first time this year, the Film Bazaar organised industry screenings for filmmakers to showcase their films to potential producers, distributors, agents, buyers and representatives of international film festivals.
Another first was the introduction of digital screening facilities. The state-of-the-art screening facility had multiple screens of 12-seater theatres and Digital and 3D compatible projection. This helped the international buyers to make informed and quick decisions on the various projects they are interested in, she said. The theatres had been set-up in collaboration with UFO Moviez.
She said that for the first time, private exhibitors were permitted to set up stalls and there were around 17 stalls.
The Film Bazaar had grown and gained wide popularity since its inception in 2007 and the number of delegates exceeded last year’s 350 delegates from 22 countries..
NFDC had invited projects from Saarc countries this year to present a window for filmmakers from these countries to various buyers and sellers from all around the world.
The other highlights at the Bazaar this time included Masterclass with acclaimed Turkish – German filmmaker Fatih Akin and also a Screenwriters Lab where a two-part screenwriters’ workshop for writing and selling original Indian screenplays was held. The Co-production Market offered selected filmmakers the opportunity to present their feature film projects to co-producers, bankers, sales agents, and other potential financiers from India and abroad. The Prime Exchange initiated market exchange between India and Europe in the field of Film and TV Production. The Bazaar saw Work in Progress Lab was held for feature films at a rough cut stage. In the Knowledge Series, NFDC presented case studies and presentations by industry experts. Leading Indian and international producers, distributors, buyers attending this year’s Film Bazaar include prominent international buyers and sales agents such as Farabi Foundation (Iran), Cinetic Rights Management (USA), Fortissimo Films (UK), The Yellow Affair (Finland), Rapid Eye Movies (Germany), Wide Management (France), Railto, (Netherland), Hanway Films (UK) and Wild Bunch (France).
Festival directors and representatives from the leading international film festivals like Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Durban International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival and Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles interacted with the attendees of Film Bazaar.
