Representatives of the Czech Film Commission and Czech Tourism met recently with Indian filmmakers in Mumbai to promote the Czech Republic as a film location.
“India offers us so much potential. They produce around 1200 feature films annually,” said Ludmila Claussova of the Czech Film Commission. “We want to bring some that business to the Czech Republic.”
Ludmila Claussova and Radka Neumannova of CzechTourism India made a presentation for more than 50 film professionals April 27 before meeting with executives at major film production companies in the following days.
Attracting Indian filmmakers was one of CzechTourism’s goals in opening its Indian branch last year. Neumannova planned the April presentation with the Czech Film Commission with this in mind.
“A successful feature film is the best marketing a country can have in India,” Neumannova said.
Film has a demonstrated boost on tourism all around the world. The first Lord of the Rings (2001) film gave New Zealand an estimated $41m in promotion. Cephalonia, Greece experienced a 50% increase tourism in the three years following the release of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001).
Indian audiences will see Czech locations in theaters this fall with the release of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd.’s Rockstar, directed by Imtiaz Ali and featuring Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor. Claussova and Neumannova saw scenes from the film when they visited Shree Ashtavinayak studios, where the film is in post-production. “It looks amazing,” Claussova said. “Rockstar will be a great promotion for the Czech Republic in India.”
