MUMBAI: Ficci Frames 2004 saw a lot of firsts in the entertainment industry. This was the fifth successive year of Frames which began in the year 2000. As a validation of the importance of the event, Frames 2004 has seen a significant increase of 30 per cent in attendance, from 1200 last year to over 1500 this year.
Every year it grows to a larger audience spanning different countries and the Indian Entertainment Industry reaches out and into the hearts of people across the continents. Over 250 international entertainment industry delegates participated in Frames 2004 from over 20 countries - South Africa, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Pakistan, Germany, France, Singapore, China and Thailand being just a few of participating countries.
As we all know, the South Asian region offers terrific potential for the development of entertainment content due to historic meetings between leaders of Indian and Pakistan entertainment industries! This will definitely give a great fillip to the art in both the countries which is so akin to each other and appreciated with a near religion-like madness. Hollywood spells big money. But one industry which is often overlooked behind the glitter of the movie Mecca is the gaming industry which is expected to reach revenues of $30 billion by the year 2005. Frames 2004 brought to India companies like Electronic Arts, Sony Playstation, etc which are tremendously excited about the prospects of Indian market for gaming industry.
Another industry, which is not given too much importance, despite the hidden rippling muscles it has hidden under its apparently placid surface is the animation industry. Ficci took the first steps towards making the Indian Animation Industry's presence felt in the Indian entertainment industry with Ficci BAF Awards - India's top 25 animation companies endorse the efforts of Ficci in recognizing excellence in the animation industry. Ficci Frames, in another notable achievement, has brought together two producers from India and USA and facilitated a co-production between India based Castle Peak Pictures and US based Quixotic.
Entertainment today is moving forward faster on the wheels powered by IT. Frames 2004 acknowledged this and highlighted the increasing importance of convergence in the entertainment industry. Some of the biggest technology giants in India and abroad from IBM to Reliance Infocom presented their vision for the coming together of the IT industry and the entertainment industry in the Indian landscape in Frames 2004. Walt Disney International, Imax Corporation, Electronic Arts were some of the important global entertainment giants that attended Frames 2004 to get a bird's eye view of the Indian Media and Entertainment Industry.
No entertainment industry convention in India can ever be complete without the face of Bollywood - Amitabh Bachchan. In a glowing tribute to the towering performances given by them in the movies they have starred in and in recognition of their contribution to the Indian entertainment industry, Ficci honoured Bachchan and Hema Malini with the Living Legend Award.
And the businessmen were happy too! All the exhibitors at Frames 2004 Marketplace had only one thing to say - They will be back in Frames 2005! They attributed this to a focused audience, innovative opportunities like Screening Room, Press Conference Room and a steady flow of serious visitors in the three day event.
Alls well with an end that is even better! The event lived up to its promise by bringing together delegates from over 20 countries and 400 companies, offering an unique opportunity to discuss business at the Frames 2004 Marketplace, building linkages between India and established entertainment regions and finally delivering its key objective of Creating Opportunities for the Indian and international entertainment industry.
