Patna: The state cabinet on Friday approved a comprehensive film production incentive policy—Bihar Film Incentive Policy, 2024. The policy is aimed at promoting film production of various types, establishing new cine theatres and also providing financial incentives to Bihar-based filmmakers and script writers, as well directors and artists.
The financial incentives would be provided to feature and documentary films, TV serials and films for OTT platforms.
The film projects would be cleared under single window system, while the empowered committee will give assent to payment of incentive. The film facilitation cell (FFC) will look after administrative decisions, sanction to shooting in the state, and recommend scholarships for Bihari film students studying in recognised film institutes under the new policy. There will also be a district-level film coordination committee.
“The Bihar Film Incentive Policy, 2024, which got the cabinet clearance on Friday, is the best among all the states. The film makers and other experts were consulted before framing the policy,” deputy CM and minister of art, culture and youth affairs, Vijay Kumar Sinha told mediapersons here on Friday. Additional chief secretary of the department Harjot Kaur was also present on this occasion.
As per the policy, a filmmaker will be given an incentive of Rs 4 crore or 25% of the total cost of production of a film, whichever is less, if 75% of the shooting is done in the state.
If the films are made in Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, Vajjika and other languages, the subsidy to be extended to 50% of the cost of production. For films made in Hindi and English, the incentive would be 25% of the total cost of production.
Films made with Bihar specific story, script and picturization that help promote the state’s branding, would get 50% incentive in total cost of production, or Rs 2 crore, whichever is less.
The incentives for TV serials would be Rs 1 crore or 25% of total cost of production with the condition that 90% of shooting and picturisation should be done in the state.
If the TV serial is providing work opportunities to Bihari artists, the additional incentive would be of Rs 25 lakh, or 50% of the actual tax, whichever is less.
Similarly, incentives have also been provided for films meant for viewing on OTT. If 70% shooting of such films is in the state, the incentive would be of Rs 3 crore or 25% of the total cost of production.