SUPPORT FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS

IDPA –Indian Documentary Producers Association-has entered into an agreement with Doordarshan to telecast award-winning and acclaimed documentaries, short fiction and animation films at prime time. These films will be telecast on Doordarshan channels – the National Channel, DD News, DD Bharati, and the international DD India over five years. The programmes will be acquired or commissioned by IDPA from independent producers and will deal with a range of social issues. The MoU was facilitated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Smt. Ambika Soni. “Documentaries are agents of change. The dedicated slot for screening given to the documentary film makers in Doordarshan is a great initiative and opens a world of opportunity for us. We have now asked for a dedicated documentary channel to reach the masses. We need banks to support passionate film-makers with loans and also lower import duties for equipment. And from our side, we need to make good, powerful films that have an impact,” said Mike Pandey, President of Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA), addressing a press conference at the 42nd International Film Festival of India today.