The art, culture and youth affairs department has readied the draft of the Bihar State Film Development Incentive Policy-2015, which would boost regional films and also cinema tourism.

Apart from giving various incentives to filmmakers (only if the film is shot in the state), the policy would ensure creation of a corpus for the revival of the Bihar State Film Development and Finance Corporation (BSFDFC), which has been non-functional for the past two decades.

When functional, BSFDFC used to allot money to filmmakers. Noted filmmakers such as Prakash Jha (known for Gangaajal, Apaharan) and Girish Ranjan (famous for making state's first Hindi film Kal Hamara Hai) had taken loans from the corporation to make documentaries.

According to sources, the art, culture and youth affairs department initiated the process of formulating the draft of the Bihar State Film Development Incentive Policy eight months ago when present divisional commissioner Anand Kishore was its secretary.

The principal secretary of the department, Vivek Kumar Singh, said: "The policy would not only help in creating employment for people of the state, but also boost tourism. According to the policy, a corpus fund has to be created with which film festivals could be organised. Besides, the funds would be used in the establishment of studios and scholarships to students who would pursue film-making courses."

On the other features of the policy, Pranav Sahi, one of the members of the panel, which has formulated the draft of the Bihar State Film Development Incentive Policy, said: "Under the policy, subsidy up to Rs 25 lakh could be availed by the filmmakers if they make films in Bhojpuri, Angika, Maithali and Vajjika languages, and those who would be making films in Hindi language, would be able to avail subsidy up to Rs 10 lakh. One of the criteria of providing subsidy to the filmmakers concerned would be that he/she needs to shoot 75 per cent film in the state, while he/she needs to engage 50 per cent Bihar artistes in his/her film. Besides, National Award winning filmmakers can avail subsidy up to Rs 20 lakh if he/she would shoot his/her next film in the state."

Also, those who would be shooting 50 per cent of their movies in Bihar, would get 50 per cent exemption of entertainment tax and those films, which would be 75 per cent shot in the state would get cent per cent exemption from the entertainment tax.

"The policy also entails norms for all the cinema theatres to show regional films at least for two weeks. If regional films are shown in good multiplexes for some time, it would definitely boost audience footfall. Even if a filmmaker makes a quality movie in regional language, it is not being released in a good theatre," he said.