Delhi is setting its sights on becoming a prominent destination on the global film landscape, with the announcement of a new filming policy designed to attract international productions. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revealed the plans, emphasizing the government's commitment to positioning the national capital as a world-class shooting location.
The Delhi Film Policy 2022 outlines key objectives to promote artistic, creative, and cultural expression and to brand Delhi as a vibrant film shooting destination by easing approval processes. The policy aims to build a large and enthusiastic audience for films shot in Delhi, both domestically and globally. The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) will be the nodal agency for implementing the film policy.
To support these goals, the government has established a "Delhi Film Fund" to brand Delhi as a national and international tourism destination through film promotion. This fund will provide subsidies and incentives for film shootings in Delhi. These incentives include performance-based funding to reward producers and distributors, which would also be utilized for marketing and promotion purposes for films based in Delhi or shot in Delhi. A subsidy of up to Rs 3 crore may be available, with certain conditions, such as the number of shooting days, location, branding of Delhi in the movie, and local hiring of actors.
A significant feature of the new policy is the implementation of an Online Single Window Clearance Mechanism (e – Film Clearance) to fast-track approval processes for film shooting from various stakeholder agencies. About 25 agencies will be connected online with Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and film production houses to streamline the process. This mechanism aims to ease the process of doing film business in Delhi.
The policy also focuses on developing shooting locations in Delhi by building and enhancing film-related facilities and infrastructure. Delhi offers diverse culture, people, and landscapes, making it a desirable destination for film shootings. The new policy will promote Delhi for film shootings through participation in various international, national, and local industry events and hosting festivals and other similar events with film-fraternity participants. An international film festival and a film excellence award are planned. A 'Film Card' will also be available to avail of discounts on hospitality services.
The Delhi Film Policy 2022 is applicable to feature films intended for theatrical release, TV series, web series, and OTT projects. To be eligible for the subsidy, productions must achieve a minimum number of points based on criteria such as the number of days spent filming in Delhi, the extent of Delhi's branding in the film, and the involvement of local talent. The maximum achievable points are 40/44 (depending on Indian/foreign film Production) and minimum eligible points are 20. The maximum cap on the overall subsidy is Rs. 3 cr. The expenditure incurred by the applicant/producer in respect of production filmed in Delhi is considered, and it must be ensured that fee/expenses paid to qualifying individuals engaged on the production (crew, extras etc.) must have a valid Voter ID of Delhi.
However, the policy has certain limitations. Due to security concerns, filming in high-security zones such as Rashtrapati Bhawan, North Block & South Block, Raj Path, Parliament House, and India Gate requires specific approvals from the Government of India and is not covered under this policy. Film shootings cannot be stopped for any reason whatsoever, except under extenuating circumstances with timely information to the Applicant and DTTDC.
