India chosen as first Country of Honour ever at Cannes Film Market

New Delhi, May 4, 2022

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur announced today that India would be the official Country of Honour at the Marche’ Du Film, organized alongside the 75th edition of Cannes Film Festival, in France.

“It is the first time the Marché du Film has an official Country of Honour, and this special focus will continue annually with different nations in the spotlight at future editions," he said.

France and India are marking 75 years of their diplomatic ties, and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris and his meeting with President Emmanuelle Macron assumes even more significance in this context. It is against this backdrop that India has been chosen as the ‘Country of Honour’ at Marche’ Du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

Thakur said the status would ensure India’s presence as Focus Country at the Opening Night of Marche Du Films being organised at the Majestic Beach with the spotlight on India, its cinema, its culture & heritage. Adding Indian flavor to this night would be special performances by Indian choir bands along with folk music and fireworks. The cuisine served would be Indian as well as French.

The Minister also announced that India would be the Country of Honour at Cannex Next, under which five start-ups would be given an opportunity to pitch to the audio-visual industry. Ten professionals will participate on the Animation Day networking.

In another highlight of India’s participation at this edition of Cannes Film Festival is the world premier of the movie “Rocketry” produced by R. Madhavan. The movie would be showcased at the Palais des Festivals of the market screening on May 19.

India has been given an opportunity to pitch five selected movies at the “Goes to Cannes Section”. These movies are part of the Work In Progress lab under the Film Bazaar: Baghjan by Jaicheng Zxai Dohutia, Assamese, Moran; Bailadila by Shailendra Sahu - Hindi, Chhattisgarhi; Ek Jagah Apni (A Space of Our Own) by Ektara Collective - Hindi; Follower by Harshad Nalawade - Marathi, Kannada, Hindi; and Shivamma by Jai Shankar - Kannada.

A Cinema Hall called the Olympia Screen has been dedicated to India on May 22 for screening “Unreleased Movies”. There are five Movies which have been selected under this category. India’s celebration of the centenary of Satyajit Ray continues at Cannes as a remastered classic of Satyajit Ray classic, Pratidwandi, will be screened at the Cannes Classic section Cinéma de la plage.

A dedicated India Forum, a one-hour conference, is being organised at the main stage, comprising the leaders of the entertainment sector and would position “India as the content hub of the World”. The India Forum would be attended by hundreds of guests and would be live-streamed online.

Speaking on the features of India Pavilion this time, the Minister said the pavilion will have the sole focus of branding India as “Content Hub of the World”. The pavilion would be inaugurated on the morning of May 18. It will showcase Indian cinema across linguistic, cultural, and regional diversities of the country and will serve as networking platform for delegates from across the global community, aiming to establish international partnerships in film shooting, distribution, production, script development, technology, promoting film sales and syndication.

NNN