The Producers Guild of India and U.K. trade body Pact have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at deepening collaboration between the two nations’ production sectors, part of a wider package of U.K.-India partnerships unveiled this week.
Producers Guild of India president Shibasish Sarkar briefed U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the MoU signing during a meeting between the Prime Minister, a visiting U.K. delegation and members of India’s filmmaking community.
The agreement builds on a cultural cooperation pact signed by U.K. Minister for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy in May. It’s designed to foster closer ties between British and Indian producers, facilitating the exchange of best practices, projects and ideas across both territories.
While U.K. television exports to India have held steady over the past five years, reaching £23 million ($30.8 million) in 2023/24, the new agreements signal ambitions to significantly boost both exports and co-productions between the longtime allies.
Under the MoU’s terms, both nations have pledged to launch educational initiatives showcasing each country’s production capabilities. Plans include sharing best practices, market intelligence, tax credit information, co-production frameworks and details on relevant industry organizations.
Pact has already taken part in a British Film Institute-led webinar introducing U.K. opportunities to Indian producers and will host a reciprocal session for British producers. These initial briefings will be followed by co-development and co-production sessions, with both online matchmaking and in-person events planned across both countries.
A parallel MoU between the BFI and India’s National Film Development Corporation will establish a framework for cooperation spanning film and broader screen industries, aimed at increasing co-productions, audience access, cultural exchange and film heritage preservation.
“I’m delighted to be able to renew Pact’s relationship with the Producers Guild of India with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding,” said Ross Lewis, Pact’s head of international and projects. “At a time of increased political co-operation between the U.K. and India, and with our shared history such a rich source of inspiring stories, it feels that the time is right to do all we can to bring together our two world-leading production sectors for even more successful collaborations.”
Sarkar added: “The United Kingdom is already a popular destination for Indian filmmakers who choose to film abroad, and the time is ripe now to take that engagement to the next level by widening and deepening ties between the filmmaking communities of both nations. I am confident that our relationship with Pact will act as a catalyst in that process, and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Pact to realise the immense potential of India-U.K. creative collaborations.”
