Arunachal federation seeks State film policy, corpus fund

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Film Federation of Arunachal (FFA) has resented the delay by the State Government in introducing the State's own film policy and allocation of corpus funds for the federation.

However, FFA has acknowledged the State Government in making the Arunachal Film Festival as a calendar event. The festival could not be organized in the last couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing the media at the press club on Monday, FFA general secretary Sambo Flago said that the federation has submitted a three-point memorandum to the State Government years back, among which it acknowledged the approval of the film festival as a calendar event.

He said that the State Government had earlier agreed to introduce a film policy and allocate corpus funds. However, due to some reasons the process is stagnant. Therefore, the FFA has submitted a memorandum yet again to the Chief Minister to look into the matter and accordingly approve it in the interest of the State and its youths.

"The demand for the allocation of the corpus fund for FFA is not new matter as the federation has earlier requested the former CM Nabam Tuki to approve it during his tenure," he said.

Flago said that though Tuki had announced to approve it but due to political turmoil, he was deposed as the Chief Minister of the State. Even during the short term of Kalikho Pul as Chief Minister, his Government had announced to provide Rs 3 crore as corpus fund, but unfortunately he too could not remain as the Chief Minister for a long period.

He said the very idea behind the demand of the corpus fund is to provide better equipment to the film-making enthusiasts of the State. He even said that the equipment shall remain as Government property and the filmmakers will make use of it as a subsidy.

"Therefore, we appeal to the present Chief Minister Pema Khandu to look into the matter and accordingly allocate corpus funds in the ensuing Budget session. In the process, the State Government will generate income from it," he added.

On the sidelines, Flago also clarified that the FFA was not aware of the recently-concluded International Tribal Film Festival (ITFF) held at Dirang. Moreover, the FFA was not even invited to participate in the festival, which was organized with an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore.

Meanwhile, speaking on the film policy, FFA IPR secretary Alison Welly said that the drafting of the film policy was started way back in the year 2020 and was finished within two years and, accordingly, submitted to the State Government.

She said that the need for the State's own film policy is very important as the State has its own Film & Television Institute (FTI) now. Even during the last film festival celebration, Pema Khandu has assured to approve it.

However, till date there has been no positive outcome, she added.

Also Read:   Seventh Arunachal Film Festival-2020 concludes

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