Dehradun: A workshop aimed at establishing Uttarakhand as a leading destination for film production was organized on Thursday (June 25, 2025) at a hotel on Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun. The event was jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC) under the theme “Developing the Filming Ecosystem in Uttarakhand.”
The workshop commenced with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony by Mr. Banshidhar Tiwari, CEO of UFDC; Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Joint CEO of UFDC; Ms. Shilpa Rao, Director (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India; and Mr. Ajay Dhoke, General Manager, NFDC.
आज सहस्त्रधारा रोड, देहरादून स्थित एक होटल में उत्तराखण्ड को फिल्म निर्माण के लिए एक प्रमुख गंतव्य के रूप में स्थापित…
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The event saw participation from prominent film producers, policy experts, senior government officials, and various stakeholders from the film industry. The discussions revolved around policy reforms, infrastructure development, and talent enhancement to bolster film production in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, UFDC CEO Mr. Banshidhar Tiwari stated that efforts are ongoing under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the Government of India to develop Uttarakhand as a film production hub. He informed that films shot at lesser-known locations in the state are eligible for an additional 5% incentive subsidy. Special subsidies are also provided to producers who employ local artists.
Additionally, he announced a one-time subsidy of ₹25 lakh for the establishment of single-screen cinema halls, especially to boost cinema infrastructure in hilly regions. UFDC is preparing an integrated directory of local suppliers, artists, resources, and transportation facilities to ease the filming process for producers.
Mr. Tiwari further revealed that, in collaboration with NFDC, plans are underway to launch a dedicated state film festival and the Uttarakhand State Film Awards. Efforts are also being made to connect regional language films to OTT platforms through coordination with Prasar Bharati’s WAVES OTT.
Ms. Shilpa Rao emphasized the importance of promoting quality content, talent, and technology to position India as a global cinema hub. Referring to initiatives like the WAVES Summit, she encouraged filmmakers to explore opportunities on wavesbazaar.com. She highlighted the Indian Cine Hub as a one-stop solution for filmmakers and stressed the need to revive the culture of community-based film viewing, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, through low-cost cinema halls.
NFDC General Manager Mr. Ajay Dhoke elaborated on NFDC’s ongoing initiatives. Officers from Indian Cine Hub provided details on various government subsidy schemes available to filmmakers.
Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Joint CEO of UFDC, gave a special presentation on Uttarakhand’s innovative film policy. He identified “Talent, Training, and Technology” as the three core pillars of the state’s film production model, adding that the focus is not just on attracting outside producers but also on empowering local storytellers and technicians.
He also outlined the facilities offered under the policy, including production subsidies, location support, film institute development, cinema screen expansion, and single-window clearance for shooting on forest and public lands.
Mr. Ram Kumar Vijayan, Assistant Vice President of Indian Cine Hub, highlighted the portal’s features, noting how it simplifies and integrates the permission process by connecting state governments, central agencies, and local nodal officers. He also spoke about the portal’s comprehensive resource directory.
The workshop concluded with a Q&A session, where participating filmmakers and industry professionals had their policy-related queries addressed by officials from NFDC and UFDC.
Earlier in the day, a joint meeting of senior officials from NFDC and UFDC was also held. The discussions focused on transforming Uttarakhand into a robust film production center, expanding cinema infrastructure, supporting regional films, and accelerating the creative economy. Topics such as filmmaking, regional cinema, screen availability, and incentive schemes were discussed in detail.
Dignitaries present on the occasion included Ms. Shilpa Rao (Director, Films, Ministry of I&B), Mr. Ajay Dhoke (GM, NFDC), Mr. Ashish Kumar Tripathi (Additional Director, Information), Ms. Shruti Rajkumar (Vice President & Head, Indian Cine Hub), Mr. Mayur Patel (Manager, Film Bazaar, NFDC), Mr. Nachiket Shirolkar (Consultant, International Promotion & Film Festivals, NFDC), and Mr. Abhay Kumar (Project Manager, Unicops).
