Bringing creativity and commerce to the same platform, the film mart has been revived at the ongoing Kolkata Film Festival (KFF) after a gap of two years. "I had proposed the idea of a film mart so that actors, directors, producers and others from the film industry can interact with those in the market," industrialist Sanjay Budhia, who heads the entertainment task force in Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said. Describing entertainment as big business, he said that the motive of film mart is to combine creativity and commerce. "It will help those in the film industry explore fresh avenues for marketing and distributing films.
Its a B2B (business to business) platform," he said adding that they are making efforts to make investment return to West Bengal in the entertainment sector. It is after a two year gap that the film market makes a comeback in KFF with sponsorship from CII. Held every year from 2003 to 2009, the film market had earlier failed to attract any buyer and wore a lacklustre look. Spread over 6000 sq ft on the Rabindra Sadan premises, the host venue for KFF, the film mart comprises 16 stalls, where film producers are showcasing their products.
"We will also have regular discussions, interactive sessions between producers, directors, etc," Budhia said. Bijay Kalyani, president of the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association, said they are expecting good business this year as the film carnival wears a new look this edition. Veteran actor Ranjit Mullick, who heads the film festival committee, said there is nothing worse than poverty for filmmakers. "This is a step in the right direction to add an economic aspect to films," he said.