Feb 2012 MEDIA RELEASE Indian cinema to delight - Film Victoria

The Hon Ted Baillieu MP
Premier
Minister for the Arts
Tuesday 28 February 2012
Visit www.premier.vic.gov.au for more news
Media release
The Hon Louise Asher MP
Minister for Innovation, Services and
Small Business
Minister for Tourism and Major Events
Indian cinema to delight Victorian audiences
Premier Ted Baillieu and Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher
have announced that Mind Blowing Films has secured the contract to deliver an Indian film
festival in Melbourne – a key Victorian Coalition Government initiative aimed at strengthening
screen industry ties between Victoria and India.
Speaking at an Indian film industry event in Mumbai on Friday night, Mr Baillieu said the
Coalition Government was supporting an annual Indian film festival in Melbourne, presenting
the best contemporary Indian cinema to Victorian audiences.
“The festival will celebrate Indian cinema and create bonds of greater understanding and
experience between the communities of Victoria and India,” Mr Baillieu said.
“This announcement delivers on the Coalition Government’s election commitment to an
annual Indian film festival in Melbourne.”
The Indian Film Festival will take place in mid-2012 and will encompass a dynamic screening
program over ten days, showcasing the extraordinary depth and diversity of the Indian film
industry.
The festival will host prominent Indian filmmakers and screen professionals and provide an
interactive program of master classes, creating opportunities for Victoria as an international
screen production location and for Victorian screen practitioners as individuals.
Ms Asher said India had one of the largest film industries in the world and it made sense to
develop initiatives to strengthen ties between Victorian and Indian film industries.
“I am delighted that Mind Blowing Films has been selected to deliver the festival from 2012 to
2014, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience of Indian cinema to Victoria,” Ms Asher
said.
“The festival complements a range of initiatives to further develop ties between the Victorian
and Indian film industries, including a Victoria/India Co-production Initiative which will see ten
Victorians travel to FICCI Frames in Mumbai in March.
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“The initiative will also support up to three Victorian companies to develop a feature film,
television or digital media project as a joint venture with a production entity based in India,”
Ms Asher said.
Visit www.premier.vic.gov.au for more news
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Mr Baillieu also announced that Bollywood star Vidya Balan would be the Brand Ambassador
for Victoria’s Indian Film Fesitival.
Ms Balan said she was delighted to be named as the Brand Ambassador for the Indian Film
Festival in Melbourne.
“I love the format of the festival and the wide range of films screened,” Ms Balan said.
“It not only showcases the best of Indian cinema but also provides a platform for young
upcoming film makers through its short film competition.
“When I was in Melbourne I was smitten by the city, its love for films from all parts of the world
and its multicultural spirit, and I am sure the Indian Film Festival will contribute greatly to add
to that spirit,” Ms Balan said.
Mitu Bhowmick Lange of Mind Blowing Films said the festival would embrace the spectacle
and unique style of Indian cinema, and showcase diverse cinematic voices, from well-known
Bollywood films to other lesser known regional areas of India that have so much to offer
audiences.
“We are thrilled to be part of this wonderful opportunity to engage audiences with the best that
Indian cinema has to offer, provide a platform for upcoming filmmakers and bring some
incredibly talented filmmakers to Melbourne to take part in our festival program,” Ms Lange
said.
Jenni Tosi, Film Victoria CEO, said she was excited to see the festival join Melbourne’s rich
screen activities and events calendar.
“This is such a great opportunity for Victorians to enjoy a unique aspect of the film industry,
and we look forward to Victorian audiences enjoying the diversity and breadth of culture of
Indian cinema,” Ms Tosi said.
Mr Baillieu said strengthening our ties to Indian cinema was a chance for Victoria to
showcase all that it had to offer in the arts.
“India’s burgeoning film industry offers opportunities for Victorian co-production projects that
build on our state’s strengths in the creative arts,” Mr Baillieu said.
“Our government seeks to promote Victoria as a place that has the skills and infrastructure to
work in film production, and where film producers can find a variety of people who can speak
a range of languages and possess a cultural understanding.”
The event was held during Victoria’s largest-ever trade mission to India, with more than 200
Victorian companies travelling on the mission to boost Victoria’s two-way trade and
investment relationship with India.
The trade mission focuses on Victoria’s strengths to generate more jobs for Victorians and
substantial new export opportunities and investment for Victorian businesses.
Media contacts: Kate Walshe 0411 472 299 or Bronwyn Perry 0408 221 963