Pact has signed and committed to a new MoU with the Producers Guild of India. This is part of a wider package of UK partnerships with India announced today.
Producers Guild of India President, Shibasish Sarkar, informed UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, about the signing of the MoU. This occurred during their interaction at a meeting. The event involved the UK Prime Minister and the visiting UK delegation with the Indian filmmaking community.
The MoU follows the cultural cooperation agreement. The agreement was signed by the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, in May this year. It intends to lead to a more collaborative relationship between the UK and Indian production sectors. Both countries aim to share best practices, projects, and ideas.
UK TV exports to India have remained consistent over the past five years (£23m in 2023/24). However, with these new agreements, there is huge potential to increase both exports and co-productions. The history between the two countries supports this potential growth.
As part of the MoU, both countries have committed to an ‘education piece’ about what each country has to offer. They will share best practices and market intelligence. They will also share reports on tax credits, co-production information, and relevant organisations in each territory.
Pact has participated in a BFI (British Film Institute)-led webinar on the UK for Indian producers. It will also host a reverse session for UK producers. These will be followed by co-development sessions. There will also be co-production sessions. UK and Indian companies will be introduced to each other via online match-making. In-person events will be held in both countries, where possible.
A new MoU is being set up between the BFI and its Indian equivalent, the NFDC (National Film Development Corporation). This agreement will establish a framework of close cooperation across film and broader screen. It aims to boost co-production and provide greater access for audiences. Cultural exchange and support for film heritage are also included.
Pact’s Head of International and Projects, Ross Lewis, said: “I’m delighted to be able to renew Pact’s relationship. We are renewing it with the Producers Guild of India (PGI). We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Political co-operation between the UK and India is increasing. Our shared history is a rich source of inspiring stories. Now feels like the right time to act. We should unite our two world-leading production sectors. This will lead to even more successful collaborations.”
Producers Guild of India’s President Shibasish Sarkar said, “The United Kingdom is already a popular destination. It attracts Indian filmmakers who choose to film abroad. The time is ripe now to take that engagement to the next level. This can be done by widening and deepening ties between the filmmaking communities of both nations. I am confident that our relationship with Pact will act as a catalyst in that process. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Pact. Together, we aim to realise the immense potential of India-UK creative collaborations.”
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