The South Indian film industry is heading towards a crucial turning point. The South Indian Film Producers’ Association (SIFPA) has officially released a circular on May 10, 2026, requesting all stakeholders not to make any unilateral decisions on theatrical and OTT release policies until a joint meeting scheduled for June 2026.
What the SIFPA Circular Says
The SIFPA circular highlights growing business and operational challenges across the five southern states and four major language markets. According to the notice, the rapidly changing theatrical ecosystem and increasing OTT platform influence require broader consultation between producers, distributors, and exhibitors.
SIFPA has clearly advised all stakeholders not to publicly announce or implement any independent commercial decisions until discussions are completed and a collective conclusion is reached.
Industry-Wide Meeting Set for Kochi in June 2026
An important meeting will be held in Kochi next month. Representatives from producers’ councils, distributors, exhibitors, and theatre owners are expected to participate in discussions on theatrical windows, OTT streaming timelines, and their impact on theatrical revenues.
The association emphasized that the meeting aims to create a balanced and commercially sustainable framework that protects the interests of everyone involved in the film business while remaining compliant with legal and regulatory guidelines.
Why This Matters for South Indian Cinema
This development comes at a time when debates over early OTT premieres, shrinking theatrical windows, and revenue-sharing models have become major concerns across the South Indian film industry. The tension between theatrical collections and OTT deals has intensified in recent months, prompting industry-wide calls for unified policies.
The SIFPA circular has been shared with several key industry bodies, including the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, Telugu Film Producers’ Council, Tamil Film Producers’ Council, Kerala Film Producers Association, Kannada Film Producers Association, and others.
With producers, exhibitors, and distributors now preparing for what could become a landmark discussion, the June 2026 Kochi meeting is expected to play a major role in shaping the future release strategy of South Indian cinema.