Grant to Films - Regional Dialects of Uttarakhand

What is the Grant to Films for Regional Dialects of Uttarakhand?

Grant to Films - Regional Dialects of Uttarakhand is the flagship production subsidy of the Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024, which is implemented by the Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC) under the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 replaced the earlier Uttarakhand Film Policy 2015, and clause 6(1) of the new policy sets out the grant specifically for films made in the regional languages and dialects of the state, commonly written as kshetriya boli films, covering Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari among others.

Under clause 6(1), a producer shooting a regional dialect film in Uttarakhand may be granted 50% of the expenditure incurred in the state, or up to Rs 2 crore, whichever is less. Where the film is a children's film, an additional 10% is given over and above the sanctioned subsidy amount. The maximum sanctioned amount is assessed by the Council on the basis of the quality and technical aspects of the film, so the Rs 2 crore figure is a ceiling and not an automatic entitlement.

The policy's own definition clause states that the applicable regional dialects of Uttarakhand are determined by the Council from time to time. Producers should therefore confirm with UFDC that the dialect of their film is on the current list before committing to a shooting schedule.

Why the state pays a higher share for dialect films

Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 grades its grants by language. A regional dialect film gets 50% of in-state spend capped at Rs 2 crore. A film in Hindi or in a language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution gets a lower share: 30% of in-state spend, capped at Rs 3 crore, because the market for such a film is far larger. Short films in Hindi, other Indian languages and Uttarakhand regional dialects are eligible for 50% of in-state expenditure up to Rs 5 lakh, and documentaries for 30% up to Rs 15 lakh.

The higher percentage for dialect films reflects a stated policy objective: clause 3(11) of the policy says the state will provide appropriate grants to encourage the production of regional films from Uttarakhand that feature local artists and are made in the local dialects or regional language of the state.

Who is eligible for the regional dialect film grant?

A producer can claim the grant if:

• The film is made in a regional language or dialect of Uttarakhand as determined by the Council.
• 75% of the film's shooting takes place in Uttarakhand, and 75% of screen time is content shot in Uttarakhand.
• The film is shot at a minimum resolution of 4K with sound quality of Dolby Digital or higher.
• The film holds a Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) certificate.
• A shooting permission letter issued by the Council was obtained before filming.
• The film was shown or premiered on a minimum of 5 cinema screens, excluding OTT broadcasts, with a certificate to that effect.
• 90% of total film expenditure was paid through bank, cheque, online medium, internet banking, UPI or other digital means.
• Every filming location in the state is credited in the credits roll.

A claim is not eligible if:

• The film was shot without a Council shooting permission letter.
• Less than 75% of shooting or screen time is Uttarakhand-based.
• The film has no Censor Board certificate.
• Cash expenditure exceeds 10% of total expenditure. Cash is discouraged outright and permitted only in unavoidable circumstances on a chartered accountant's certification.
• The claim is for marketing, promotion or release costs, the policy states that only film production expenses incurred within the state are eligible, and marketing, promotion and release funding is expressly excluded.
• Expenditure was incurred outside Uttarakhand; only in-state spend counts towards the 50%.

Films broadcast on an OTT platform approved by the Council remain eligible, but the producer or company must attach a copy of the agreement executed with the OTT platform.

How to apply for the Uttarakhand regional dialect film grant

1. Apply for shooting permission through the state's Single Window System for film shooting before the shoot begins. Under clause 15, online applications are accepted for shooting at locations across Uttarakhand, every department must submit its consent within one week, and the Council gives online approval within a maximum of two weeks.
2. Collect the permission letter issued online by the nodal officer of the Council. This single letter is valid for shooting at all public locations in the state.
3. Shoot the film meeting the policy conditions — at least 75% of shooting and 75% of screen time in Uttarakhand, 4K resolution, Dolby Digital or better sound, and keep every invoice and bill for in-state expenditure. Pay at least 90% of total expenditure through banking or digital channels.
4. Obtain the Central Board of Film Certification certificate and release the film on at least 5 cinema screens, collecting the screening certificate.
5. Prepare the statement of in-state expenditure with invoices and bills, and get it certified by a chartered accountant.
6. Submit the grant claim to the Uttarakhand Film Development Council with the Censor certificate, the Council shooting permission letter, the CA-certified expenditure statement, the screening certificate, banking proofs, and the OTT agreement where applicable.
7. The Council assesses the quality and technical aspects of the film and sanctions the grant, which is released to the producer or their duly authorised representative after the project is complete.

What the state charges, and does not charge, for shooting

Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 removed most shooting costs for producers:

• The state government charges no fee for film shooting in Uttarakhand, and no other state department may charge a fee either.
• Forest Department shooting charges stand abolished, except at Rajaji National Park and Corbett National Park, where prescribed rates still apply.
• Where a parking fee is already fixed for a location, the producer pays it to the concerned authority.
• On request, the SSP or SP in charge stations a minimum of 5 police officers at the shooting location free of charge for the duration of the shoot; additional officers are provided at specified rates.
• Film units get a 50% discount on accommodation at Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, state government guest houses and hotels empanelled with the Information Department, reimbursed by the Council directly to the property.

What extra support exists for regional dialect films?

Beyond the production grant, clause 9 of the policy supports the release of Uttarakhand regional dialect films:

• Mandatory screening. All cinema halls and multiplexes in the state must show Censor Board-approved Uttarakhand regional dialect films for a minimum of one show per day for one week. If first-week viewership exceeds 75%, the run may be extended by a further week.
• Public auditoriums. Producers of regional dialect films may use auditoriums of state corporations, municipalities, departments and nagar panchayats on the condition that 10% of total ticket sales is paid to the relevant department.
• Television broadcast reimbursement. A regional dialect film producer gets a one-time reimbursement of 20% of the fee, or up to Rs 5 lakh, whichever is less, for a single broadcast on Doordarshan Uttarakhand or another channel.
• Recce subsidy. Under clause 14, producers get 30% of recce expenditure or up to Rs 5 lakh, whichever is less, provided Council permission was obtained before the recce.
• Awards. The Uttarakhand Film Awards carry a dedicated Regional Dialect Film category with Rs 2,00,000 for Best Film, Rs 1,50,000 for Best Director and Rs 1,00,000 each across eight further categories.

Common reasons a film grant claim fails

• No prior Council permission. Shooting first and applying later disqualifies the claim; the permission letter is a listed eligibility condition.
• Shooting share below 75%. Producers who shoot a few scenes in Uttarakhand and the rest elsewhere do not qualify.
• Fewer than 5 screens. OTT-only releases do not count towards the 5-screen theatrical condition, even though OTT-broadcast films are otherwise eligible.
• Cash-heavy accounts. Exceeding the 10% cash ceiling breaks the 90% digital payment rule outright.
• Marketing costs in the claim. Promotion and release spend is not reimbursable and its inclusion forces a re-audit of the whole statement.
• Missing location credits. The policy requires every in-state filming location to appear in the credits roll.

Who to contact

• Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC), Ladhpur, Ring Road, near Kisan Bhawan, Dehradun
• Email: ufdc2015@gmail.com
• Website: ufdc.uk.gov.in, which also hosts the full Film Policy Booklet

The Uttarakhand Film Policy 2024 is administered through UFDC's single window system, and shooting permission plus grant sanction both run through the Council's nodal officer. No agent is authorised to charge for arranging a shooting permission letter, which the policy requires the Council to issue online within two weeks of application.