📌 Key Points
- Leading South Indian film producers from four states met to address critical industry challenges.
- The assembly unanimously condemned unilateral decisions on theatrical or 8-week OTT window terms.
- A high-level steering committee was formed to oversee challenges and facilitate coordination.
- Producers are advised against making any commitment on OTT release windows without collective consultation.
Leading South Indian film producers have united to challenge proposed OTT window mandates. They’ve advised members against unilateral commitments, emphasizing the need for mutual consultation to protect the existing film-making ecosystem and thousands of livelihoods from sudden shifts.
Producers Unite Against Unilateral OTT Mandates
Leading film producers from the Producers’ Associations and Guilds of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala met to address the critical challenges.
The South Indian film producers on Sunday pushed back against proposed OTT window mandates without mutual consultation. In a meeting held on Sunday (April 19) at Hotel Dasapalla, leading film producers and representatives from the Producers’ Associations and Guilds of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala met to address the critical challenges threatening the film production sector.
Producer Sreenivasa Kumar has taken to his X account to share the official statement and keynote on the meeting. It was issued by The Steering Committee, South Indian Film Producers Association (SIFPA).
Steering Committee Formed for Industry Coordination
The assembly unanimously condemned any unilateral decisions taken by other stakeholders of the industry regarding theatrical terms or 8 weeks OTT window terms, without mutual consultation. It was emphasised that the existing film-making ecosystem, which supports thousands of livelihoods, cannot be disturbed overnight, as such sudden shifts would create chaos for projects at various stages of production.
Steering Committee: A high-level steering committee, comprising representative members from each of the four South Indian language film industries, has been established to oversee immediate challenges and facilitate frequent coordination among the four language industries and Producers.
Advisory to Producers: All Producer members are advised to continue with their current processes of film-making, sale terms of various rights and release schedules on their own, without any controls or terms imposed by any Association.
Advisory: No Premature OTT Window Commitments
Stand on OTT Windowing: Producer Members are specifically advised not to issue any letters of commitment regarding OTT release windows at this stage to any Association or Sector. Any such terms must only be decided through collective consultation to ensure the financial viability of the production sector.
The newly formed Steering Committee of SIFPA will meet frequently to ensure that the Producer, the primary risk-taker of the industry, remains a sovereign stakeholder in all decision-making processes.
This collective stance highlights the South Indian film industry’s commitment to protecting its financial viability. Producers are urged to maintain current processes, ensuring that future OTT terms are decided through careful, collaborative consultation.
