Film London Initiative Unites Asian Filmmaking Talent

India's Cinestaan Film Company is to invest in the Film London Microwave International: Shakespeare India training through production fund.

The international iteration of Film London's initiative will unite Asian filmmaking talent from the UK and India. Five successful teams will be selected for Microwave's Microschool. This will give the writers, producers and directors from both countries the chance to hone their skills through an intensive programme of training, professional mentoring and advice on issues ranging from financing through to distribution.

Cinestaan will join Film London and the British Council in investing in the scheme. In addition to the new business partnership, mentors Vishal Bharwaj (Maqbool, Omkara and Haider – three successful Shakespeare adaptions), Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox), Vikas Bahl (Queen, Phantom Films) have been announced as three of the expert industry mentors who work with the successful applicants during the project.

The ambition is to greenlight one successful project, which will draw from the work of William Shakespeare and be theatrically released in 2016 as part of Shakespeare 400 – a year-long cultural programme marking 400 years since the writer’s death.

Cinestaan Film Company will invest up to £250,000 in the greenlit feature. They will join Film London and the British Council in contributing to the crucial training programme and play an important role in selecting the filmmaking teams and ensuring the selected project has the strongest possible chance of success.

www.filmlondon.org.uk

(CD)