By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 29, 2019: The Odisha State Film Policy, 2019 appears to have struck the chord with the production houses in the country primarily due to some attractive sops such as a subsidy of 25 per cent of the total cost of the film (ceiling at Rs 1.25 crore) to English, Hindi, international and other language movies for earmarking at least five per cent of the screen time in promoting Odisha. The subsidy will be enhanced to Rs 2.5 crore if the screen time is doubled.

Odisha government rolled out an exclusive Film Policy to woo the country’s noted production houses. The policy primarily aims to position Odisha as the ideal venue for film shoots with its tapestry of art, culture and tourism.

“Our Film Policy has resonated with the movie makers. We have got encouraging responses from more than 10 production houses from Delhi and Mumbai. Building on the response from here, we are keen to approach film makers in other states and reach out to international makers. Our Film policy is the best in the country”, said an official.

Incidentally, all films who devote some screen time to promoting Odisha can avail the incentives but our focus is more on drawing films of social import instead of the ones focused on crass commercialization, he added.

The state government is also providing Rs 10 crore assistance to filmmakers for the first three Hindi and international language films with a budget of at least Rs 50 crore if they meet the stipulation on screen time.

The policy also promises a subsidy of 25 per cent of the total cost of the film for Odia movies which convey aesthetic excellence, high technical standards and social relevance. However, the amount of subsidy is capped at Rs 1.25 crore for films and comes with a rider on shooting time- at least 50 per cent of it has to be scheduled in the state. If a film producer devotes 90 per cent of the shooting period to Odisha, the subsidy rises to Rs 2.5 crore. For subsequent film shoots in the state, producers can avail sops embedded in the policy.

Incentives also abound for developing film cities and reviving the now battered Kalinga Studio which once enjoyed its pride of place in shooting films of yore.

Eligible investors are also assured of an ease in tax burden. The State Goods & Services Tax (SGST) will be reimbursed for seven years from the date of start of commercial operations. Moreover, the new investors will be exempted from electricity duties for five years and stamp duty waiver.