At the 11th India International Film Tourism Conclave (IIFTC), filmmaker Anubhav Sinha delivered a strong message to India’s state film commissions, urging them to prioritize ease of production for filmmakers over subsidy-driven incentives. Moderating a panel discussion that featured representatives from Gujarat, Maharashtra, New Delhi, and Bihar’s film cells, Sinha called for a shift toward facilitating convenience to better support the filmmaking process.
Sinha humorously noted his inexperience as a moderator, yet quickly engaged with his fellow panelists, thanking them for their dedication to advancing the film industry’s interests. Recalling his own experience working with a film commission while filming Tum Bin in Canada in 2000, he spoke of how much India’s film commissions have progressed, even as he urged them to focus on supporting filmmakers beyond financial subsidies.
Sinha highlighted what he sees as a key gap in the current film commission approach. “Many commissions end up being more like audit offices where filmmakers are required to apply for grants based on spending quotas,” he said, stressing that convenience should be paramount. Instead of focusing solely on subsidies, he encouraged commissions to simplify and expedite the process for filmmakers, with benefits such as discounted hotel rates, faster location permissions, and reliable support from local authorities, like traffic and police.
Sinha cited Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad as a model for convenience, explaining that its streamlined offerings—from on-site accommodations to equipment rentals and diverse filming locations—make it an easy choice for filmmakers. “Ramoji Film City provides a comprehensive, convenient setup, which makes it attractive regardless of subsidies,” he said, urging other commissions to build similar infrastructure that draws filmmakers based on ease of access and support.
As the discussion wrapped up, Sinha emphasized that creating a filmmaker-friendly ecosystem should be a top priority, envisioning a future where the convenience provided by film commissions fosters stronger industry relationships. Such an approach, he suggested, would help attract both domestic and international productions, benefiting regional economies and furthering India’s reputation as a premier filmmaking destination.
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