With the aim of positioning Chile as an attractive and competitive film destination for international audiovisual productions, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage and ProChile received a Bollywood delegation -from the Indian film industry-, composed of three professionals, who spent until March 7 touring the Metropolitan, Valparaiso and Atacama regions.

He is Indian film producer and writer Vivek Singhania, recognized for his contributions to both Bollywood and international cinema, where he participated in Namastey London (2007) and co-produced Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden (2012). He is joined by Sameer Dharmadhikari, an actor in Bollywood and television, most notably in Raincoat (2004) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), in addition to being awarded Best Actor at the City Cine Marathi Awards 2019, and Sanjay M. Khanduri, director of Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007) and Kismat Love Paisa Dilli (2012), among other films series for television and streaming production companies, and who has received awards at festivals in Mexico and New York.

Chile, an emerging Bollywood film destination

The "FAM Trip to Chile from India" is the first action of the reactivation of the Film Commission Chile, an instance that will be managed between ProChile and the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. Its objective is to consolidate the interest of international producers in filming in our country, connecting them with the Chilean audiovisual industry and encouraging future co-productions.

The visit of Indian professionals to Chile was conceived during 2024 after the Chile Summit India event organized by ProChile, in the context of the official visit made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, and 10 multisectoral associations, including the audiovisual sector.

For Chile, India is a very relevant market in its strategy to diversify destinations and the supply we bring to the world. Both countries have had a Trade Deepening Agreement in force since 2017, preceded by a Partial Scope Agreement since 2007. These have allowed reaching total shipments to India by 2024 for US$2,528 million; and advancing in non-copper, non-lithium exports, which last year reached US$ 779 million, an increase of 38% over 2023, and the highest since 2007.

"We know the impact that Indian productions can have on the promotion of international destinations. We hope that this visit will be the beginning of a fruitful relationship between both industries, and that we will soon be able to see Indian productions filmed in Chile, promoting not only our cultural identity, but also tourism, regional development and the growth of our audiovisual industry," said the Minister of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Carolina Arredondo.

In turn, the Director General of ProChile, Ignacio Fernández, highlighted the reactivation of the Film Commission Chile "and being able to make this familiarization trip with the Indian executives is the first milestone of this new instance of international promotion. Chile is not only a country of contrasts and extraordinary natural beauty, but also a territory that has conquered spaces in world cinematography, from the Atacama Desert to the southern forests. That is why we want to continue strengthening Chile's creative industries, showing India the strategic partner we can be in Latin America from different areas and through the diverse wealth present in our country".

The ProChile authority also commented that this trip of Indian professionals to Chile to position it as a film destination will have a second and third stage, with a visit of Chilean professionals to the Indian market to showcase national audiovisual services, and the organization of a new country promotion event in India, within the framework of the presidential visit next April.

In addition to meeting with authorities and trade representatives to learn about the incentives for Chile to become a film destination, and also to bring the Chilean audiovisual industry closer to Bollywood, the Indian delegation visited various locations in Viña del Mar and Valparaíso on Wednesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 6. And on Friday 7 they will arrive in the Atacama Region to visit the Sea of Dunes and the San José mine.

Vivek Singhania added that this is his first time in South America and that he is very much looking forward to visiting the locations, while Sameer Dharmadhikari added that "we are really excited to meet and collaborate with the Chilean producers".

Alexandra Galvis, executive vice-president of the Film and Television Producers Association added that "it is a milestone that shows what can be achieved through coordinated work between institutions. They have managed to establish a clear work framework to, hopefully, be able to carry out our first collaboration between Chile and India".

Check out the original article in ProChile