India will sign film co-production treaties with Russia and South Africa: Rathore

India will soon sign treaties with Russia and South Africa for film production, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Friday. 

He said this at the inaugural ceremony of BRICS Film Festival here.

“This festival is the time when filmmakers and technicians (from different nations) can interact with each other and develop collaborations and friendships. This is the time when they can think about producing movies together. We have already signed co-production treaties with China and Brazil and now soon we will have treaties with Russia and South Africa,” he said.

Rathore further said such a festival also widens market for Indian films in Brazil, Russia, South Africa and China.

“Last year itself, 1,000 Indian films did a business of more than USD 2 billion. Now a 43 per cent of the world population (BRICS nations) could be the market for Indian films and even for movies from other four nations. Imagine what sort of potential ere is for the cultures of these five nations to reach out to the world. This is the reason we are celebrating this festival,” he said.

BRICS was opened by Kunal Kapoor-starrer “Veeram” and Chinese superstar Jackie Chan’s “Skiptrace” will bring cutains down on the festival on September 6.