The public broadcaster Doordarshan will be telecasting award-winning and acclaimed documentaries, short fiction, and animation films on Sunday mornings from January 2012, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Documentary Producers Association, the oldest organisation of documentary and short filmmakers in the country.

IDPA president Mike H Pandey told at a press meet that the films will be telecast on Doordarshan's National Channel and later repeated on DD News, DD Bharati, and the International DD India channel. He also emphasised that while priority will be given to members of IDPA, the slot would be open to all documentary and short filmmakers. The programmes will be acquired/ commissioned by IDPA from independent producers and will deal with a range of issues.

He said the aim is to promote the independent documentary film movement in India, and ensure quality and credibility, apart from empowering independent producers to work up to the best international standards.

The MoU has been signed for a period of five years. Mike said IDPA is a knowledge partner with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to promote short and documentary films and will also promote the non-feature films in the Indian Panorama.

The IDPA is also in talks with the Ministry to get a dedicated documentary television channel, and for reduction of duties on equipment, since documentaries are a tool for education.

All channels should carry documentary slots part of their corporate social responsibility, he added.

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