The landmark bilateral, audiovisual co-production agreement was one of many major announcements made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his India tour last month.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shaking hand with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese after exchange of agreements and press statement last month. Source: AP / Manish Swarup/AP/AAP Image
The deal was signed on 10 March by Australian Trade Minister, Don Farrell, and Indian Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur.
The initiative will also provide projects in both countries with access to government funding including grants, loans and tax offsets.
Australian government
Mr Farrell said the agreement recognised India’s role as a ‘cultural powerhouse’ and would provide opportunities for each country’s best screen talent to collaborate and create content.
Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, was in India last month. Credit: SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AAP Image
“India is an important economic and cultural partner to Australia, and our governments have been working hard to bring our two film industries closer together,” Mr Farrell said.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the agreement would bring a range of cultural and economic benefits to the Australian screen industry and provide an important pathway for our local industry to access international markets and audiences.
Australian Minister for the Arts Tony Burke. Source: AAP / LUKAS COCH/AAPIMAGE
“Bringing a slice of Bollywood to Brisbane, while showcasing Melbourne to Mumbai is good news for the Australian screen industry,” he added.
“This will open up new audiences and investment for local screen producers, taking Australian stories to one of the largest cinema audiences in the world.”
How are film experts viewing the India-Australia Co-production agreement?
For Julie Marlow, who contributed to the agreement’s discussion as Screen Producer Australia’s Policy Head in 2008, it is ‘fantastic news’. In her opinion, Indian producers will wait until they have complete information about the agreement before making any decisions about film shooting in Australia.
Former head of Film Victoria, Julie Marlow Credit: Supplied by Julie Marlow
“It is also time for the two governments to work on streamlining the structure, such as collecting information on local talents and performers so that once a project is approved it can be executed easily,” Ms Marlow, who was former head of Film Victoria, said.
Former film critic and national award-winning filmmaker, Utpal Borpujari, said the focus should be on leveraging each other’s strengths.
Utpal Borpujari is a former film critic based in India.
“Australia has great post production facilities and India has talented manpower. And both countries have diverse and magnificent landscapes for film shooting,” he said.
Sydney-based Indian Australian filmmaker, Anupam Sharma, said the agreement would not only bring slice of Bollywood to Australia but specifically boost diverse Australian stories which were India-centric.
Anupam Sharma is a Sydney-based filmmaker.
“Indian Australian actors and performers will benefit from these co production projects,” he said.
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