International
CII to look at the big picture at Intl film fest
MUMBAI: At the 36th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), CII will organise a conference – India – The Big Picture.
The event takes place in Goa at The Marriott, from 23-24 November 2005.
Through a series of keynotes, panel discussions and case studies, leading national and international speakers will present growth opportunities and strategies to overcome challenges facing the Indian film industry. The conference will provide an opportunity to network with the key executives from the leading organisations in the business and the conference would focus on the content and financing aspects of the film business with individual sessions on film marketing, communication, co-production and new technologies.
Mahindra and Mahindra MD Anand Mahindra will deliver a keynote on the role entertainment sector has to play in India’ globalisation effort. Bollywood star Aamir Khan will dwell on different film genres and what should be made. Actor and dierctor Kamal Hassan will talk about The power of cinema in South India. Director Nagesh Kukunoor will take the audience through the process of making a successful low budget film. Shekhar Kapur who directed the Oscar winner Elizabeth will offer a perspective of Indian cinema and examine whether there is a need for change.
It goes without saying that there will be Hollywood experts in attendance as well. Entertainment Business Group CEO John Lee talks about processes that happen in Hollywood before a film is given the greenlight. Film distributors looking to tap the overseas market would be interested in Capitol Films MD Sharon Harel explaining what West expects from Indian films.
CII points out that the Indian film industry urgently requires long-term growth strategies to address deficiencies in its value chain and set its processes right as it goes global. This high level industry conference is meant for all interested in the business of films – creative, financiers, investors, distributors, sales agents, technology providers.
The conference’s culmination will merge with the opening of the International Film Festival of India on 24 November 2005 following with the Film Bazaar from 25-29 November 2005, the exhibition arm of IFFI, supported by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
