Dr. Shikha Mishra
Film policy, spectacular locations and shooting incentives draw strong interest from leading production houses; Ramoji Film City representatives also explore filming opportunities
Lead Reporting
Hyderabad: Uttarakhand’s growing appeal as a film-shooting destination was firmly in the spotlight at the India International Film Tourism Conclave–South held in Hyderabad on Thursday, with leading filmmakers and production houses from the southern film industry showing keen interest in the state’s film policy, natural landscapes and shooting-friendly ecosystem.
Following similar appreciation at the conclave in Chennai, Uttarakhand’s film policy once again emerged as one of the key attractions at the Hyderabad edition, where representatives from several Indian states as well as Tunisia, Italy, Thailand, Romania, Hungary, Serbia and Azerbaijan participated.
The conclave brought together leading producers, directors and representatives of Hyderabad’s film industry, creating a platform for states and international destinations to showcase their filming opportunities and policies. Prasar Bharati WAVES OTT, Uttarakhand Film Development Council and Maharashtra CDC participated as exhibitors.
The event opened with a networking session, followed by video presentations by exhibitors highlighting their respective destinations and film-related incentives. The presentations were followed by one-to-one interactions and detailed discussions between filmmakers and representatives.
South Indian filmmakers explore Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand attracted considerable attention from production houses looking for new and visually distinctive locations. Representatives of several prominent production companies expressed interest in exploring the state for future film projects.
Among the production houses that showed interest in shooting in Uttarakhand were Vethayog Pictures, Frames Craft, People Media Factory, Barkat Studio, Pixels & String, PLIL Productions, Dil Raju Productions, TCA, Primeshow Entertainment, GRK Entertainment, Wharf Street Studios, Mythri Movie Makers, Omega Creations and Star Orbit Studios.
Representatives of Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, also expressed interest in exploring filming opportunities in Uttarakhand, adding further momentum to the state’s efforts to establish itself as a preferred destination for the film industry.
The interactions provided filmmakers with an opportunity to understand the policies and incentives offered by different destinations, while Uttarakhand used the platform to present its combination of mountain landscapes, rivers, forests, heritage spaces and diverse locations as a natural cinematic canvas.
Single-window clearance and incentives highlighted
Representing Uttarakhand at the conclave, K.S. Chauhan, Nodal Officer, Uttarakhand Film Development Council, elaborated on the state’s film policy and the facilities available to domestic and international filmmakers.
He highlighted the state’s single-window clearance mechanism, shooting opportunities across diverse locations and the assistance extended by the state government to facilitate film production.
Chauhan said sustained efforts were being made to take Uttarakhand’s film policy, natural locations and production facilities to filmmakers across India and overseas.
He also outlined the incentives available under the state’s film policy, including subsidies of up to ₹3 crore for Hindi and other regional-language films shot in Uttarakhand. Web series and foreign film productions have also been brought within the subsidy framework, he said.
Aiming to turn Uttarakhand into a film destination
Chauhan said the state’s film policy had been implemented under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with the objective of encouraging film production and strengthening Uttarakhand’s position on the national film map.
He said the state government was working on policies and initiatives aligned with the Chief Minister’s vision of establishing Uttarakhand as a major film destination.
The Hyderabad conclave, he added, offered an important opportunity to showcase Uttarakhand directly to the southern film industry, where filmmakers are increasingly looking beyond conventional shooting locations for fresh landscapes and distinctive visual settings.
“Uttarakhand’s natural beauty, supportive film policy and facilities provide a compelling proposition for filmmakers,” Chauhan said, adding that presenting these strengths before the southern film industry could significantly expand opportunities for film production and film tourism in the state.
With leading production houses showing interest and international destinations also participating, the conclave underlined the increasingly global character of film tourism. For Uttarakhand, the Hyderabad engagement represents another step towards converting its natural beauty into a sustainable creative-industry opportunity, bringing more productions, visitors and investment to the state.
