Government Bodies and Schemes for Film Promotion and Co‑Production in India

India possesses a structured institutional mechanism under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to foster film production, international co-productions, and global film promotion. The government supports independent cinema, provides financial incentives for foreign shoots, and maintains single-window clearance portals to position India as a global filming destination. Recent institutional restructuring merged legacy media units into a single entity to streamline operations, optimize resources, and expand financial incentives for international co-productions.

Key Government Bodies for Film Promotion

National Film Development Corporation (NFDC)

• Founded in 1975 as a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, NFDC serves as the central agency for film financing, production, and distribution.
• In December 2020, the Union Cabinet approved the merger of four media units—Films Division, Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), National Film Archive of India (NFAI), and Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI)—into NFDC based on the Bimal Julka Expert Committee recommendations.
• NFDC organizes the annual International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa alongside WAVES Film Bazaar (formerly Film Bazaar), South Asia’s largest co-production market.
• The organization finances feature films in regional languages under the Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) scheme.

India Cine Hub (Formerly Film Facilitation Office)

• Established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and managed by NFDC, India Cine Hub functions as the single-window facilitation mechanism for domestic and foreign filmmakers.
• Operates an online portal to issue filming permissions across central ministries, state governments, and heritage sites.
• Maintains a network of Nodal Officers across Indian states and Union Territories to assist filmmakers with local logistics, security, and clearances.

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

• Functions as a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, governed by the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
• Regulates public exhibition of films through four main certification categories: ‘U’ (Unrestricted), ‘UA’ (Unrestricted with Parental Guidance), ‘A’ (Restricted to Adults), and ‘S’ (Restricted to Specialized Audiences).
• Operates through nine regional offices located in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Cuttack, Guwahati, and New Delhi.

Film and Television Institutes

• Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune: Established in 1960 on the premises of the Prabhat Film Company as an autonomous institute offering post-graduate training in cinema and television.
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata: Established in 1995 as an autonomous academic institution specializing in film, television, and audio-visual arts.

Major Schemes and Financial Incentives

Incentive Scheme for International Film Production and Co-Production

• Offers a reimbursement incentive of up to 30% of eligible local expenditure incurred in India for foreign film shoots and official co-productions, subject to a cap of ₹30 crore.
• Provides an additional 5% bonus for incorporating substantial Indian content or employing local talent and crew.
• Requires a minimum qualifying expenditure threshold in India to claim financial reimbursements under the scheme.

Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) Scheme

• Implemented by NFDC to fund the production of feature films, documentaries, short fiction, and animation films across diverse Indian languages.
• Supports first-time directors and debut filmmakers to encourage artistic expression and regional storytelling.

National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM)

• Executed through the archival vertical of NFDC (formerly NFAI) with a total budget allocation exceeding ₹590 crore.
• Focuses on preventive conservation, 2K/4K digital restoration, digitization, and archival storage of thousands of historic feature films, documentaries, and newsreels.

International Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreements

Regulatory Framework and Bilateral Treaties

• India enters into bilateral Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreements to allow co-produced films to claim national status in both signatory countries.
• Co-productions qualify for domestic incentives, tax concessions, import duty exemptions, and streamlined work permits for production personnel.
• Bilateral agreements exist with multiple nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, China, Russia, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Poland, New Zealand, Israel, and Bangladesh.

Institutional Overview Matrix

Core Film Promotion and Co-Production Facts

• The Cinematograph Act, 1952 provides the legal framework for film certification and regulating public exhibitions in India.
• The Bimal Julka Expert Committee recommended the merger of Films Division, CFSI, NFAI, and DFF into NFDC in 2020.
• Films Division, established in 1948 in Mumbai, was the oldest government documentary production unit in India.
• National Film Archive of India (NFAI) was established in 1964 in Pune as a specialized repository for preserving film prints.
• IFFI held its inaugural edition in 1952 in Mumbai, before establishing Goa as its permanent annual venue.
• WAVES Film Bazaar (formerly Film Bazaar) operates as the primary B2B trade event for South Asian co-productions.
• Foreign productions shooting in India can claim incentives up to ₹30 crore under the central scheme.
• Official co-productions under bilateral treaties enjoy domestic status, waiving customs duties on temporary import of filming equipment.