06 December 2022
On November 16, the second meeting of the representatives of the National Cinema Center of Armenia and the Indian Economic Trade Organization was held. A number of important issues related to the practical part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the parties back in July were discussed at the meeting. Within the framework of the MOU, the steps aimed at the development of the cinema sector, as well as the substantive Armenian-Indian cooperation in the field are the subject of deep study for proper evaluation of the existing opportunities and prospects for cooperation.
According to the Indian partners, during the past few months they have seriously studied interaction opportunities in Armenia, such as the selection of filming locations, conditions and other important components, required for the post-production stage of film production, in particular,. They expressed hope that after certain legislative adjustments, it will be possible to develop joint film production as well.
According to the Indian side, all these are preparatory steps for the establishment of the "India-Eurasia Film Academy" in Armenia, since the development of this sphere largely depends on education itself. Indian business professionals are planning to carry out professional training and exchanges of professional groups; they are also intended to foster co-production in the field of cinematography. Shushanik Mirzakhanyan, director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia, proposed to organize a meeting for Armenian and Indian film producers, so that they could discuss narrow professional issues aimed at the development of the sector and cooperation facilitation. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of RA, who were present at the meeting, proposed signing an interstate agreement to insure objectivity and legal invulnerability of such cooperation. Possible ways of cooperation in the field of film restoration were also considered. The Indian partners remarked that they had already introduced Armenia to many Indian companies, helping raise their interest in implementing mutually beneficial projects in various fields.
The Head of the Department for Modern Art of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Svetlana Sahakyan, Senior Specialist of the Film Department Lusine Sargsyan, representative of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marta Ayvazyan, representatives of the Indian Economic Trade Organization Yateesh Venkatesh and Ganesh Pappanna, director of the National Cinema Center of Armenia Shushanik Mirzakhanyan and Film Commissioner Melik Karapetyan were present at the meeting.
