The Indian Producers Union and British trade body Pact have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at deepening co-operation between the two countries’ production sectors as part of a wider package of UK-India partnerships announced this week.
Shivashish Sarkar, president of the Producers Union of India, briefed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the memorandum of understanding during a meeting with the Prime Minister, the visiting delegation and members of the Indian filmmaking community.
The agreement builds on the Cultural Cooperation Agreement signed by UK Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy in May. It aims to foster closer ties between UK and Indian producers and encourage the exchange of best practice, projects and ideas across the regions of both countries.
British television exports to India have remained stable over the past five years, reaching £23 million ($30.8 million) in 2023/24, but the new agreement signals ambitions to significantly expand both exports and co-productions between the long-standing allies.
Under the terms of the memorandum, both countries committed to launching an educational initiative to showcase each country’s manufacturing capabilities. The plan includes sharing best practices, market intelligence, tax credit information, co-production frameworks and details of relevant industry associations.
Pact has already taken part in a British Film Institute-led webinar to introduce Indian producers to UK opportunities, and will host interactive sessions for UK producers. These initial briefings will be followed by co-development and co-production sessions, with both online matchmaking and in-person events planned in both countries.
The parallel Memorandum of Understanding between BFI and the National Film Development Corporation of India will establish a framework for cooperation across the film industry and the broader screen industry, with the aim of increasing co-production, audience access, cultural exchange and film heritage preservation.
“We are pleased to renew Pact’s relationship with the Indian Producers Union with this Memorandum of Understanding,” said Ross Lewis, Pact’s Head of International and Projects. “At a time when political co-operation between the UK and India is growing, and our history a rich source of inspiring stories, we feel the time is right to bring our two world-leading manufacturing sectors together and do everything we can to make our cooperation even more successful.”
Sarkar added: “The UK is already a popular destination for Indian filmmakers who choose to shoot films abroad, and there is an opportunity to take that engagement to the next level by widening and deepening the relationship between our two countries’ filmmaking communities. I am confident that my relationship with Pact will act as a catalyst in that process and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues at Pact to realize the immense potential of creative collaboration between India and the UK.”
