THE ANTICIPATED success of Dublin-located Bollywood film Ek tha Tiger would give Ireland a “major boost in the Indian market”, Minister for Arts Jimmy Deenihan said yesterday.
There was a “huge opportunity” for the Irish film industry in India, he said at the launch of the 3rd Indian Film Festival of Ireland.
Ek tha Tiger will not be screened as it is not released until later this year. However, the festival will show 11 other feature films and a documentary between June 8th and 11th.
The interest in creating a film in Ireland was stimulated by the festival, which started in 2010, festival co-ordinator Mary O’Sullivan said.
One of the aims was to encourage co-production, with a masterclass in Indian film being held as part of the festival.
It will attract some very well-known stars of the Indian film industry, such as actor and singer Ila Ar, writer and director Vijay Singh and producer Leslee Udwin.
Ireland was “so beautiful” to film-makers visiting from India that they become “interested in making films here”, Ms O’Sullivan said.
The Indian film festival signified the “much more modern relationship” between Ireland and India of “industry, commerce and culture” Indian ambassador to Ireland Debashish Chakravarti said yesterday. He urged people not to miss 1960s film Mughi-e-Azam showing as part of the festival and which he saw as a boy. “It’s something to see. It’s a great epic of the same calibre as Ben-Hur,” he said.
The festival is being held from June 8th-11th, with most screenings at Dundrum. Indianfilmfestivalofireland.ie
