The film fraternity in Goa has 

had it bad for a while. And now it seems they are running out of patience. The Federation of the Film Fraternity of Goa has issued an ultimatum to the state government that all pending files should be cleared in the next fifteen day, failing which it will be confirmed the present government is not keen on promoting cinema in the country.

Internationally acclaimed Konkani film maker Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, Dinesh Bhosale and Schubert Cotta both acclaimed directors said they had been involved in the Konkani film industry and it was depressing to see the government not doing anything to help them. Lakmikant said they had been promoting Konkani films in various festivals and the government in 2004 was very helpful with the film finance schemes. However since 2013, funds have not been released. Between 2013-15 some films were cleared. After that the government stopped asking for applications. The files he said were with the Chief Secretary who refused to do anything. They met with the CM he said, who promised to clear it in fifteen days but nothing happened. This kind of behavior, Laxmikant said had left the Konkani film industry in crisis.

He said the industry since 2013 had won Goa 6 national awards and as per the government guidelines the film producers were entitled to some money. Which was not paid leaving them wondering of the government was ever going to pay them. Schubert Cotta said they were not begging but asking what was due to them as per rules that had appeared in the gazette. He said “Many other states have similar schemes which have served film producers in those states very well. Look at Maharashtra and the Marathi film industry which has boomed now and the kind of films being made are exemplary. The state government has to only follow the rules that have been set. Any more delay will kill the industry”.

Laxmikant said no producer would make a second movie in Goa because he or she would not receive money from the government for the first movie which was due to them. He said there were 47 such producers in Goa who were in crisis. Each of them, he said had to pay around 60-70 crew members hired for their movies. He ended by saying this should be a apt reminder of the crisis being faced by the industry in Goa and if corrective action was not taken, it would die a sad death.