India, Poland to expand cooperation in cinema restoration

New Delhi: India and Poland have agreed to expand cooperation in the restoration and digitisation of cinema archives. This was agreed in a meeting between Secretary Information and Broadcasting Bimal Julka and the visiting high-level Polish delegation headed by Secretary of State Malgorzata Omilanowska, here Thursday. Both countries also agreed to form a Joint Working Group in order to prepare a futuristic road map to enhance cooperation in films, animation, digitization, student exchange programme and such other areas of mutual benefit, a statement said. Julka briefed the delegation about various initiatives of the ministry in the films sector such as setting up of National Film Heritage Mission with digitization of film archives, setting up of the centre of excellence on animation, gaming and visual effects and the participation in various film festivals by the ministry to promote India as a filming destination. Both countries also agreed to further explore possibilities of signing a coproduction agreement in the field of animation. The Polish delegation also extended its support for restoration and digitisation of film archives, said the statement.