CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: In a game-changing move to boost cinematic tourism and spotlight its breathtaking locales, the Meghalaya government is set to offer substantial subsidies for films shot in the state. Productions in national and international languages will be eligible for financial support of up to Rs 1 crore, provided that at least 75 percent of the shooting takes place in Meghalaya and prominently features its tourism destinations.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at his residence, with Tourism Minister and MDA spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh and other officials in attendance.
"Films made in major national and international languages that have the potential to push Meghalaya's tourism sector will receive subsidy support of up to Rs 1 crore, or 25 percent of the total cost of the film, and to qualify for that, they need to have at least 75 percent of the total shooting days within the state of Meghalaya, and that too outdoors," said Minister of Tourism Paul Lyngdoh.
He said, "About three months back, the state government, in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and myself, had released the Meghalaya draft Film Tourism Policy 2025. We are happy to share with you that we received over 200 inputs from various stakeholders who are interested in the film industry and, more importantly, especially from local filmmakers and producers. So having taken the various inputs and incorporated the same in this policy, today, we brought the policy before the cabinet. There was a very detailed and intense discussion after which the cabinet had approved this policy."
Justifying the policy's urgency, Lyngdoh said, "The Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy seeks to focus on the fact that Meghalaya has huge potential to attract filmmakers from across the world. We would like to promote national and international films and media productions, also to establish Meghalaya as a hub of filmmaking in the Northeast and to develop a robust infrastructure across the state."
To facilitate seamless production, the government will establish a dedicated Film Facilitation Cell comprising representatives from the Departments of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Information & Public Relations (DIPR). "We have structured an agency to be called a Film Facilitation Cell, which will include representatives and officers from various agencies and departments. They are the Department of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and DIPR will synergise their efforts and ensure that we are able to work in tandem to project Meghalaya as a major destination for movies, both regional and national and even international," Lyngdoh stated.
Citing strong support for indigenous cinema, he added, "Local film producers in Khasi, Pnar, and Garo languages will be allocated subsidy support of Rs 50 lakhs, for which each filmmaker will avail this incentive once every two years."
Highlighting the full scope of the policy, he said, "There will also be support for making and producing TV serials and shows, web series, and original shows to be displayed on OTT platforms. You may be aware that we have our own Hello Meghalaya app, which is the only government-funded OTT platform in the country. There will be grants for documentary films shot in Meghalaya and short films shot in Meghalaya."
He further said, "As for financial subsidy and infrastructure development, we are also coming up with a film studio, and all of these various interventions will be scrutinised at the level of this committee-the Film Facilitation Cell. But this is a major step forward in ensuring that we open up Meghalaya in a huge way to film tourism."
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