Film Finance Scheme of the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation

What is the Film Finance Scheme in Assam?

The Film Finance Scheme in Assam is operated by the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Limited, a government body listed as a sub-organisation of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam. The corporation is often referred to by its initials, ASFFDC, and its office is at Shilpgram Road, Panjabari, Guwahati 781037.

The corporation's published statement of objectives makes film finance its first purpose. Objective one is "to finance production of Assamese films by advancing loans, subsidies, grants etc". The remaining objectives set out a much wider mandate: supporting institutions that give instruction in the film industry and training employees, engaging in production, financing, distribution and exhibition of films within India and abroad, encouraging quality cinema through awards, subsidies and film festivals, leasing properties, equipment and apparatus to industry participants, manufacturing raw film, chemicals and cinema equipment, constructing and operating theatre facilities, and acquiring copyright and rights in films, stories, music and artistic works.

Against that broad charter, the corporation lists six functions it currently performs:

1. Film production financing
2. Financial assistance to artistes through the Artiste Welfare Fund
3. Film Museum: preservation and exhibition
4. Film Archive, preservation of film prints
5. Auditorium hire. An air-conditioned, 100-seat auditorium
6. Shooting generator van hire

What amounts does the scheme pay?

The corporation does not publish loan amounts, subsidy rates, interest rates or slabs on its website. The financing authority is stated in general terms in the objectives, and the functions page confirms film production financing as a current activity, but no ceiling or formula is notified publicly. This guide does not state a figure, because inventing one would mislead a producer planning a budget. A producer seeking finance should obtain the current terms directly from the corporation's office before committing to a production schedule.

This is worth stating plainly: the Film Finance Scheme is an institutional financing route for film producers, not a citizen benefit with a published entitlement. There is no application portal, no notified sanction ceiling and no open calendar of rounds.

Who is eligible for film finance in Assam?

You can approach the corporation if:

• You are a producer of an Assamese film, since financing production of Assamese films is the objective the corporation names.
• You are a film artiste seeking assistance from the Artiste Welfare Fund, for which a dedicated form is published.
• You are a film body or production unit needing the corporation's auditorium or shooting generator van on hire.

You cannot apply, or are not eligible, if:

• You are a member of the public looking for a personal cash benefit. The corporation finances film production and supports artistes; it is not a household welfare scheme.
• You are seeking finance for a project with no Assamese film connection, which falls outside the stated objective.
• You expect an online application. The corporation's Forms page carries only the S.G. Van Booking Form, the Auditorium Booking Form and the Artiste Welfare Form, so film finance proposals are handled at the office.

What documents are needed?

The corporation does not publish a document checklist for film finance. In practice a producer should carry a complete project proposal with budget, script outline, cast and crew details and a production schedule, along with identity and entity proof for the producer or production house and bank account details. For the Artiste Welfare Fund, the Artiste Welfare Form is downloadable from the corporation's documents section and is the starting point.

How to apply for Assam film finance

1. Contact the corporation first on 8876519296 or at asffdcpnj@gmail.com and ask for the current terms of film production financing, since no amounts are published online.
2. Prepare the project proposal; script outline, budget, production schedule, cast and crew, and the amount of finance sought.
3. Visit the corporation's office at Shilpgram Road, Panjabari, Guwahati 781037, and submit the proposal to the office of the Managing Director.
4. For artiste welfare instead of production finance, download the Artiste Welfare Form from the corporation's Forms page, fill it, and submit it at the same office.
5. For auditorium or generator van hire, download the corresponding booking form from the Forms page and submit it with the booking dates.
6. Follow up with the Superintendent (General Administration) at the same office number for the movement of your file.

Who to contact at the corporation

The corporation publishes its officers and a single shared contact:

Address: Shilpgram Road, Panjabari, Guwahati 781037, Assam.

Related bodies you may actually need

Two other Cultural Affairs bodies are often confused with the film finance corporation, and approaching the wrong one wastes weeks:

• Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society — the state film studio, for shooting floors and production facilities.
• Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Govt. Film & Television Institute, the training institute, for courses in film and television.

A further point of confusion is the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). DIPR's own scheme list covers journalist welfare schemes, one-time ex gratia, media fellowship, press tours, advertisements, publications, LED billboards, allotment of land and training workshops. DIPR does not run film finance in Assam, that sits with the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation under Cultural Affairs.

Grievance and information route

• Managing Director, Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation: also the designated State Public Information Officer, which means an RTI application on film finance sanctions is addressed to this office.
• Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, culturalaffairs.assam.gov.in, the administrative department above the corporation.
• The corporation's website carries a Grievance Redressal page and an RTI page under its Resources section.

Because the corporation does not publish sanction amounts, a producer should get the terms in writing from the office before treating film finance as a committed part of a production budget.