Film Bazaar ends on optimistic note

The five-day Film Bazaar 2006, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here, ended on an optimistic note with the representatives expressing the hope that it would transform leads into business deals.

Chairperson of the CII's National Entertainment Committee, Bobby Bedi told Business Standard that the Film Bazaar succeeded in its objective of showcasing the Indian cinema to the world and generating business leads and contacts for exhibitors and delegates.

"Most of the leads will transform into business in the next couple of months," he added.

Bedi, who is also a renowned film producer, stated that the Film Bazaar had achieved the purpose of encouraging meetings between 'producers and co-production partners'.

During the five-day Film Bazaar, it saw the participation of 15 exhibitors showcasing their films, services, buy and sell movies, promote and market shooting locales, understand new business development and strike meaningful partnerships in the film-making business.

Altogether, there were seven workshops with presentations from speakers from India and abroad during the event. "People exchanged ideas, discussed semi-developed scripts and used the Film Bazaar as a networking ground for their future projects," Bedi said.

With the success of Film Bazaar at the IFFI in Goa, most exhibitors are likely to participate in the Cannes Film Market, during the premier global film event, under the CII umbrella.

Meanwhile, the CII has announced that Stephen Cohen, vice president of the Ascent Media, world's largest post-production company, was actively looking at India as an offshore destination for post-production. He also had meetings and discussions on potential partnerships with Indian companies.

Swedish Company, Hepp Films is also contemplating setting up of an office in India for the line-production and post-production. While the Britain-based Pebble People was reported as looking at bringing its overseas line production work into India.

Helder Da Costa of the Tropical Entertainment in Latin America expressed his interest not just in Bollywood, but also in the regional cinema throughout India.

To familiarise themselves with the Indian film industry, representatives of the Chinese Import Export of Films agency were also in Goa. Besides, there were producers from Argentina, Poland, Australia and Israel looking at possibilities to co-produce and distribute Indian movies.