GUWAHATI, June 25 - National award-winning filmmaker Rima Das is now gearing up for her fourth feature film, which will be financed by the State government through its nodal agency the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Limited (ASFFDC).
�The film will be named Purna Chandra. But the name may be changed if required. Production will start soon,� Das said.
But she did not reveal the subject and plot of the new film, stating that it would cast many professional actors of the State. She also announced that her third film Bulbul Can Sing could be released across the State in August.
Noted actor and Chairman of ASFFDC Jatin Bora informed that the Corporation would provide Rs 50 lakh to Rima Das for her new film.
�The State government has allocated Rs 1 crore to the Corporation to provide financial assistance to the filmmakers of Assam. From the fund we will provide Rs 50 Lakh to Rima Das and the remaining fund will be equally divided between two other filmmakers. For this purpose we have already published an advertisement inviting scripts. Till date we have received 51 scripts and from among those our screening committee will select two beneficiaries,� Bora said.
It is noteworthy that under the Assam State (Subsidy to Films) Policy, the government is going to provide financial assistance to the regional filmmakers. The policy will cover full-length feature films, children�s films, documentaries and short and animation films of good quality. The quantum of subsidy will be decided by the government from time to time.
According to the policy, to avail government assistance a film should have some social relevance to satisfy the basic norms of aesthetics and contribution to healthy human sentiments as a work of art.
There will be two committees, the screening committee and the cost evaluation committee.
The screening committee will assess the standard and quality of a film before granting financial assistance. The cost evaluation committee will evaluate the cost of production of the film to be considered for subsidy. A film co-produced with the ASFFDC will also be eligible for subsidy. In such a case, the ASFFDC�s share in the cost of production will not be more than 50 per cent where the subsidy will be given to the co-producer in proportion to their share of investment.
The subsidy will cover up to 30 per cent of production cost in case of feature films and documentaries and animation films above 45-minute duration. In case of children�s films the subsidy will cover 40 per cent of the production cost. This category will also cover children�s films in animation format.
In case of documentaries, short films, children�s films (short) and animation films of seven to 22-minute duration, the subsidy will cover up to 70 per cent of production cost.
There are also some other criteria to avail the subsidy.
The ASFFDC has also geared up to assist cinema hall owners of the State to renovate old halls and set up new ones. For this the Corporation will start a site survey soon.
