Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that India is planning to sign a film co-production agreement with Russia and South Africa.In his address at the closing ceremony of 1st BRICS Film Festival, Naidu also said that a specially curated BRICS section would form part of the India International Film Festival from this year onwards and would become a regular feature in the future editions."India is doing co-productions with Brazil and China. We are considering signing a co-production agreement with Russia and South Africa," he said here at the Siri Fort Auditorium Complex."I propose for a special BRICS section to be a part of the India International Film Festival. I hope this will provide a great platform and forum for the filmmakers of BRICS countries to work together, come together and act together," added Naidu, who was joined by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, at the event.
He further said that being a "powerful medium", cinema can sends across the right message that can counter the negativity emerging from terrorism."We have challenges like terrorism, which has no religion. It is the enemy of humanity. So, through cinema I hope that we convey the right message to people. The entire world should come together to condemn such heinous crime because the terror is becoming a big problem across the globe. Earlier it was limited to the sub-continent but now it's spreading worldwide.During his speech, Naidu even asked filmmakers from various part of the world, especially from other BRICS countries, to visit India to shoot their films."India offers varieties of locale for shooting films. In addition to this India is home to one of the biggest film industries. We have nature's beauty and also accountability in the people of India, who work together for the best results," he said.The five-day long film festival, which is a part of the special events planned in run-up to the 8th BRICS Summit being held in India, featured 20 films in the competition section which focussed on a variety of issues and themes ranging from discrimination, love, history and relevant social challenges being faced by BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.The next edition of the BRICS Film Festival will take place in Chengdu, China.