The policy incentivizes owners to reopen closed cinema halls, upgrade the existing ones, and encourage setting up of multiplexes
By KL Desk
The Jammu and Kashmir government formally unveiled its Film Policy announcing series of incentives for shooting movies, free of cost security and safety arrangements for the filmmakers, setting up of J&K Film Development Council (JKFDC) to be headed by senior officers of the rank of Principal Secretary to the Government and J&K Film Division.
The J&K government will incentivize owners to reopen closed cinema halls, upgrade the existing ones and encourage setting up of multiplexes, besides offering a slew of subsidies to establish Jammu and Kashmir as the first choice for filmmakers as a shooting destination.
With an avowed objective to create a vibrant ecosystem for the same, the government accorded sanction to the implementation of the Film Policy-2021 of J&K. The Policy was approved by the Administrative Council led by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on August 5, 2021, and was launched with much fanfare in the presence of Bollywood actor Amir Khan and film-maker Raj Kumar Hirani besides others at SKICC.
“Appropriate security and safety arrangements would be made free of cost to enable the filmmakers to complete shooting in Jammu and Kashmir. Permission to shoot will include police clearance which will be granted within one month of receiving the application, security team will be specially trained/oriented for film shoots. A Nodal Security Officer from the Police Department will be nominated who will be responsible for facilitating the film shooting matters related to security and police,” the Film Policy document said.
“Starting from 2021-21, there will be an allocation of Rs. 500 crores for disbursement of subsidies envisaged in the J&K Film Policy payable in the next 5 years. Expenditure on the subsidies during the current fiscal year 2021-22 shall be made out of Rs. 100 crores available for Promotion of Cinema in the appropriate head of account in the Demand of Grant of the Culture Department,” the policy reads.
However, starting from the fiscal year 2022-23, a separate head of account shall be created- Film Development Fund, in the Information Department and an annual budgetary allocation of Rs. 100 crores for the remaining term of the Film Policy will be made by the Finance Department for disbursement of subsidies to the eligible beneficiaries/ filmmakers who have applied for the same.
“Governance of Policy JKFDC will be the single point of contact for supporting the development of a vibrant film ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir and exclusively oversee the implementation of the Jammu & Kashmir Film Policy. The policy would be valid for 5 years from the date of notification. Dispute-Mechanism All the disputes arising under the terms and conditions of the Jammu and Kashmir film policy shall be subject to the Jurisdiction of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court only,” the policy reads.
“Appropriate security and safety arrangements would be made free of cost to enable the filmmakers to complete shooting in Jammu and Kashmir. Permission to shoot will include police clearance which will be granted within one month of receiving the application, the security team will be specially trained/oriented for film shoots. A Nodal Security Officer from the Police Department will be nominated who will be responsible for facilitating the film shooting matters related to security and police,” the policy says.
The government would give subsidy up to Rs one crore or 25 percent of the total Cost of Production (CoP) whichever is lower if a minimum of 50 percent of the movie is shot in Jammu and Kashmir. The subsidy will go up to Rs 1.5 crore or 25 percent of the CoP if 75 percent movie is shot in Jammu and Kashmir. For shooting the second movie, the subsidy will rise to Rs 1.25 crore or 25 percent of CoP for 50 percent shooting and Rs 1.75 crore or 25 percent of CoP in case of 75 percent shooting.
For third film, the subsidy will further go up to Rs 1.5 cr or 25 percent of CoP and Rs 2 crore and 25 percent of CoP for 50 percent and 75 percent shooting respectively.
If the films are produced by award-winning Producers/Directors they will get Rs 1.75 cr subsidy on shooting the film of half of its total shooting days which will rise to Rs 2.25 crore if the film is short for two-third of total shooting days. This will be for second film in Jammu and Kashmir which for third or successive film in the Jammu and Kashmir, the amount will further go up to Rs 2.25 cr and Rs 3.25 cr for half and two-third shooting days respectively.
Producers and their crew will get 50 percent rebate over prevailing rates of room at Government hotels across J&K.
If J&K is prominently featured in a feature film with more than 75 percent shooting days in the UT, then the Tourism sector gets directly benefited here. Such a film of each category (first, second, third and subsequent film) shall be given an additional subsidy of Rs 50 lakh which will be decided by the JKFDC on case to case basis.
On producing film on the story/script based on the UT of J&K with a view of special branding (J&K specific movies), a special grant of 50 percent of the cost of production of film or Rs 5 cr, whichever is less, shall be provided.
“Percentage of film shooting in the UT shall be calculated in proportion to the number of days shot in J&K out of total shooting days of entire film”, the Policy document said, adding if the filmmaker gives work opportunity to the local artists of J&K, then an additional subsidy shall be provided which will be maximum of Rs 50 lakh for a film with cost of minimum five primary local artists of J&K of or 50 percent of actual payment of the artists. For a film with cast of minimum of 5 secondary artists of J&K, a minimum additional subsidy of Rs 10 lakh of 50 percent of actual payment of artists will be given.
Similarly, the Government has announced subsidies for shooting Film/TV show/web series/original shot of OTT platform and documentary besides TV serials and shows.
“The Film Policy sets the vision up till 2026 with the aim of maximizing potential of both Jammu and Kashmir Film Servicing Industry as well as the promising local film sector. The Policy will serve to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a unique film destination,” the document said.
“The JKFDC will be a separate vertical and act as a distinct agency to achieve objectives of the Film Policy. It will be a high-powered committee headed by an officer of the rank of Principal Secretary to the Government and comprise other senior officers, eminent personalities of the Film Industry and other related to the industry.
The JKFDC will create an ecosystem for making J&K a preferred destination for filming, build a well-strategized and focused branding of J&K in films and narratives surrounding the movies, facilitate overall growth of J&K Film Industry, take measures to promote film tourism in J&K through financial intervention and provide a mechanism for disbursement of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, create and develop ancillary business opportunities to co-exist with film making and support it and visualize the film industry from a value chain perspective and factor market dynamics that need to be addressed to be added to develop this sector.
“The JKFDC will create single point of contact to achieve objectives of the Film Policy, It shall be authorized to make and issue detailed guidelines, rules, checklist and all required formats and agreements etc essential to implement the Film Policy including guidelines for disbursement of subsidy and financial incentives,” as per the Policy document.
It stated that the Government will also constitute J&K Film Division under the Information and Public Relations Department for running the short/educational films made in J&K in the cinema houses and implementation of the Film Policy.
There will be a simple process for grant of permissions through a single-window mechanism to the production houses for film making in Jammu and Kashmir which will incentivize and boost domestic and international film production in the UT.
“The Single Window mechanism will be headed by the Chairman JKFDC. Film makers will have to apply online through the J&K Single Window portal by uploading all necessary documents. For permission of locations and script screening, two separate Appraisal Committees will be constituted. The Location Permission Committee will be headed by respective Divisional Commissioner while Script Screening Committee will be headed by an eminent person as Chairman and three members from the field of film making/script writing/art/culture or any relevant field related to the movie making and nominated by JKFDC.
The films produced to patronize the feeling of ‘One Nation, Best Nation’ (Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat) and on certain other themes as decided by the JKFDC in English and other languages of the country (excluding the films produced in regional languages of J&K), shooting of which has been carried out for a minimum half of their total shooting days in the UT, shall be given 50 percent of their cost of Rs 50 lakh whichever is less by way of subsidy.
Similarly, children and women empowerment related films will be given additional 25 percent financial assistance over and above the subsidy subject to maximum of Rs 50 lakh.
A special subsidy in the range between Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 cr will be given to J&K regional films that win international awards.
“Incentives/subsidies laid down in Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021 will be applicable for creating/scaling-up of film related infrastructure in the Jammu and Kashmir such as setting up of cineplexes, multiplexes etc.
The Government of Jammu & Kashmir will develop various locations where the shooting of films could be done. The relevant amenities will be created/improved at these locations. It will make available the use of such identified locations for shooting and related activities on a priority basis. The Government will also produce an infomercial on such locations in the Jammu and Kashmir and screen it at National and International Film Festivals for the information of the film fraternity.
While intending producers will have to obtain all clearances (Single Window) for use of shooting locales, all such locales will be allotted/ made available free of cost for the purpose of film shooting.
A complete directory of all the locations available for shooting in J & K will be hosted on the single window portal to facilitate the filmmakers.
“The Government of Jammu & Kashmir will facilitate the providing of airstrips and its air resources for outdoor shooting of the film in the UT at such rates as may be fixed by JKFDC, through the mechanism of Single Window Clearance. The government shall assist and facilitate FAM trips for potential investors, filmmakers, decision makers, regional producers or other relevant stakeholders in order to encourage and incentivise investments in this sector,” the policy reads.
“Knowledge and information dissemination are the key to investment in this sector. The government shall have a Single Window Portal that will provide a one stop real time data and also a help desk to assist the film makers with information and support,” the document adds.
“In the present times, television and other means of entertainment are vying with films to grab the attention of viewers. This has resulted in a sharp fall in the number of film goers which has forced the closure of the cinema halls, and many existing cinema halls are on the verge of closure. To bring back the public into the cinema halls it is imperative to have highgrade facilities in film screening hall. The modern Cinema Theatre should be able to provide a unique experience which otherwise is not available while watching movies at home,” the policy says.
“The Government of Jammu & Kashmir shall encourage and incentivise owners to reopen closed cinema halls. All the incentives to such Units shall be governed under the provisions of J&K Industrial Policy 2021.For promoting film viewing in the cinema halls, it is important to modernize and upgrade the facilities and technologies available in the existing cinema halls. The Government of J&K shall encourage the owners of the Cinema Halls to create modern amenities by way of various incentives. To encourage setting up of Multiplexes and Cinema Halls, all the incentives as envisaged under the J&K Industrial Policy 2021 shall be applicable.”
