India chosen as first ‘nation of honour’ ever at Cannes Film Market

By IANS

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday introduced that India would be the official ‘Country of Honour’ on the upcoming ‘Marche’ Du Film’, organised alongside the Cannes Film Festival, in France.

“It is the first time the Marche 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 stated.

Noting that France and India are marking 75 years of their diplomatic ties, he stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to Paris and assembly with President Emmanuel Macron takes much more significance on this context.

“It is in this significant diplomatic backdrop that India has been chosen as the ‘Country of Honour’ at Marche Du Film at the Cannes Film Festival,” he stated.

Thakur stated that the Country of Honour Status’ thereby ensured India’s presence as focus nation on the opening night time of Marche Du Films being organised on the Majestic Beach with highlight on India, its cinema, its tradition and 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,” he stated.

The Minister famous that India can be a ‘Country of Honour’ on the Cannes Next’, below which 5 new startups can be given a possibility to pitch to the audio-visual Industry and 10 professionals will take part on the Animation Day networking.

Another spotlight of India’s participation at this version of Cannes Film Festival is the World Premier of the film ‘Rocketry’ produced by R. Madhavan. The film can be showcased on the Palais des Festivals of the market screening on May 19.

India has been given a possibility to pitch 5 chosen motion pictures on the ‘Goes to Cannes Section’. These motion pictures, a part of the ‘Work In Progress’ lab below the Film Bazaar, are ‘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.

Thakur additionally stated {that a} cinema corridor referred to as the ‘Olympia Screen’ has been devoted to India on May 22 for screening aUnreleased Movies’.

India’s celebration of centenary of Satyajit Ray continues at Cannes as remastered basic “Pratidwandi” will probably be screened on the Cannes Classic part Cinema de la plage. A devoted India Forum, one hour convention is being organised on the major stage, comprising leaders of the leisure sector who would place ‘India because the content material hub of the World’.

On the options of India Pavilion this time, the Minister stated that the pavilion may have the only real focus of branding India as ‘Content Hub of the World’. The pavilion can 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 a 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,” he added.