Joint venture film productions suspended

The information ministry on Sunday suspended all work on joint venture films until a new policy about it is formulated. The decision was made at a ministry meeting between Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and members of the film fraternity on Sunday, report The Daily Prothom Alo. 

Information Secretary Mortuza Ahmed chaired the meeting, where representatives of film fraternity associations, Misha Sawdagar and Faruq made a number of recommendations. 

The decisions taken at the meeting were: formulation of a new, complete and current policy for joint venture films ensuring the interest of the country's film industry, suspension of all joint venture films' activities until the policy is formulated, and purchase of 50 HD projectors under BFDC supervision to add to the projection of cinema theatres. The disclosures were made in a press brief of the ministry. 

The decision comes after a stand-off between organisations of artistes and crew members, all under the umbrella organisation of 'film family' and Jaaz Multimedia regarding censor clearance and release of two joint venture films this Eid. The organisations have repeatedly claimed that the films did not fulfill the criteria for joint venture films, and have made demands for a revamp of the policy for joint venture films.