Pickle AFM 2020 Issue Editorial

The five day American Film Market Online 2020 (November 9-13) began on a bright note. We have brought out India focused Pickle AFM Edition and it is in the AFM Newsstand. This virtual AFM 2020 is one of the most user friendly navigation platforms, connecting the dots of fulfilling the diverse wishes of global delegates.

AFM has gone virtual for the first time in 41 years. It is amazing to know, 19 people from AFM organised the AFM online market, strategising the whole exercise working from home. In normal circumstances, 350 would have been engaged to conduct the physical market.

AFM has participants from 78 countries, 3600 delegates, 1450 buyers, 562 exhibitors, and 465 film screenings. Added to this are 205 speakers from 20 countries participating in 71 sessions spread over five days.

AFM represents the true spirit of global independent film producers, directors, buyers, content creators, consultants and advisors. In addition to Film Commissions across USA, 25 Film Commissions across the world are attending.

In fact, the most important element of AFM is the anticipation among filmmakers and producers to plan and strategise films that would come out fresh to the market in the next 12 to 18 months.

Now that India has opened up business for international business travelers, filming in India is a great opportunity for international film producers. Crews with Film Visa can get to shoot in India and this Visa facilitation is available in over 120 Indian Embassies and Consulates across the world. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s Film Facilitation Office (www.ffo.gov.in) is currently accepting applications for film shoots in India.

In fact, the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to be credited for opening FFO. This has been on talks for over four decades and the execution has happened in the last couple of years and foreign film shoots are being facilitated and streamlined to get the best out of India’s locales and media services.

With one billion mobile subscribers, 550 million plus smart phone users, 620 million Internet subscribers, 950 TV channels, 1,800 films produced annually, 100,000 newspapers and periodicals and over 50 OTT platforms, India’s vibrant M&E industry provides attractive growth opportunities for global and domestic corporations. The government’s policies are geared towards realizing the full potential of this growing sector.

Feel free to email your thoughts and suggestions. We will be most happy to answer any of your questions and we are just a few clicks away to set up meetings (www.pickle.co.in) for collaborating with Indian media and entertainment companies.