'Bollywood to Brisbane': Australia, India to collaborate on co-production deal

A deal between Australia and India will aim to "bring a slice of Bollywood to Brisbane" following Anthony Albanese's first official trip as a Prime Minister. According to film experts, the new initiative would facilitate easier access to permits, subsidies, grants and enable actors, producers, and filmmakers to work together.

Bollywood film 'Heyy Babby' was shot in Sydney in 2007. Source: AAP / TRACEY NEARMY/AAPIMAGE

The landmark bilateral, audiovisual co-production agreement was one of many major announcements made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his India tour last month.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shaking hand with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese after exchange of agreements and press statement last month. Source: AP / Manish Swarup/AP/AAP Image

The deal was signed on 10 March by Australian Trade Minister, Don Farrell, and Indian Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur.

The initiative will also provide projects in both countries with access to government funding including grants, loans and tax offsets.

Australian government

Mr Farrell said the agreement recognised India’s role as a 'cultural powerhouse' and would provide opportunities for each country’s best screen talent to collaborate and create content.

Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, was in India last month. Credit: SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AAP Image

“India is an important economic and cultural partner to Australia, and our governments have been working hard to bring our two film industries closer together,” Mr Farrell said.

“This agreement will bring our actors, producers and filmmakers together and in turn, bring our people closer together.”

The agreement will capitalise on India and Australia’s thriving personal and cultural links.

"The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is the largest annual celebration of Indian cinema outside of India. Australia’s screen industry is widely recognised within India for its unique cultural perspectives," he highlighted.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the agreement would bring a range of cultural and economic benefits to the Australian screen industry and provide an important pathway for our local industry to access international markets and audiences.

Australian Minister for the Arts Tony Burke. Source: AAP / LUKAS COCH/AAPIMAGE

“Bringing a slice of Bollywood to Brisbane, while showcasing Melbourne to Mumbai is good news for the Australian screen industry,” he added.

“This will open up new audiences and investment for local screen producers, taking Australian stories to one of the largest cinema audiences in the world.”

How are film experts viewing the India-Australia Co-production agreement?

For Julie Marlow, who contributed to the agreement's discussion as Screen Producer Australia's Policy Head in 2008, it is 'fantastic news'. In her opinion, Indian producers will wait until they have complete information about the agreement before making any decisions about film shooting in Australia.

Former head of Film Victoria, Julie Marlow Credit: Supplied by Julie Marlow

"It is also time for the two governments to work on streamlining the structure, such as collecting information on local talents and performers so that once a project is approved it can be executed easily," Ms Marlow, who was former head of Film Victoria, said.

Former film critic and national award-winning filmmaker, Utpal Borpujari, said the focus should be on leveraging each other's strengths.

Utpal Borpujari is a former film critic based in India.

"Australia has great post production facilities and India has talented manpower. And both countries have diverse and magnificent landscapes for film shooting," he said.

"Australian filmmakers shooting in India would have to employ a minimum number of crew from India to avail of the subsidies. Thus, crew would have the opportunity to get involved in Australian productions," Mr Borpujari points out.

Sydney-based Indian Australian filmmaker, Anupam Sharma, said the agreement would not only bring slice of Bollywood to Australia but specifically boost diverse Australian stories which were India-centric.

Anupam Sharma is a Sydney-based filmmaker.

"Indian Australian actors and performers will benefit from these co production projects," he said.

"It's too soon to say when we can see more and more Bollywood movies shot in Australia as the full details about the agreement need to be confirmed," he said, adding that although many Indian films had been shot in Australia, no large Bollywood projects had been shot since 2014.

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