MUMBAI: The information & broadcasting ministry's Films Division has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mauritius Film Development Corporation to conduct an International Film Festival in Mauritius shortly.
The Division hopes to screen many of its good films at the Mauritius festival.
Two of the Division’s English films - Uma, on Kathak dancer Uma Sharma directed by Buddhadeb Dasgupta and The Eye of Fish, the Kalaris of Kerala directed by Priya Krishnaswamy - were entered in the Indian Panorama section of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The festival ends tomorrow.
According to an official release, the division is churning out 80-90 short films and documentaries every year, which are also available as CDs. The division produced over 8,000 films on topics like art, culture, environment, burning issues and harmony,
The release quotes Film Division's director Sanjay Pattanaik as saying, "We are currently engaged in exploring aggressive markets, strategies to tap global audience apart from market tie-ups and establishing financial viability. In this direction, we are tying up with Doordarshan and Discovery Channel for better marketing of its films and revenues."
Films Division claims to have digitalised over 3,000 films. The division, the release states, is also waiting eagerly for its Mumbai Film Festival of India scheduled to take place at Mumbai from 3 to 9 February, 2004.
The festival will screen well-known international films from a number of countries. The event is held once every two years. In 2002, 40 countries had participated in the event.
Films Division is a media unit under the I&B ministry engaged in producing documentaries, short films and animation since 1948.