Tourism, culture and cinema minister P C Vishnunadh
the state faces a shortage of large sound stages and virtual production facilities Although more than 200 films are released annually in Kerala . The project aims to address these gaps and ensure that advanced post-production and sound work can be carried out within the state itself. The goal is to build the Film City as a compact, high-tech cinema ecosystem, he added.
Kochi : The construction of J C Daniel International Film City, announced in the state budget, will begin in six months, said tourism, culture and cinema minister P C Vishnunadh on Friday.
Locations ranging from beaches, backwaters, and heritage sites to mountains, urban-rural landscapes and IT parks are all accessible within a 30- to 60-km radius. Meanwhile, the new chairperson of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy will be appointed ahead of International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, which begins on Sept 25, Vishnunadh said. He noted that entry submissions for International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) exceeded expectations, receiving nearly 30 more film entries than anticipated by the deadline. IFFK is scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram from Dec 11 to 18.
Vishnunadh said a single-window clearance system would give a major boost to the film sector, and the state’s readiness to recognise cinema as an industry — setting an example for the country — would attract more investors. He said the state was opening up new possibilities in film tourism like never before. The Film City aims to establish Kerala as a major global filming destination by leveraging Kochi’s unique geography. Dismissing reports that the academy is facing an operational crisis, the minister clarified that preparations were on track.