India official Country of Honour for Cannes Film Market

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

MALTI SAHAI

India is the official Country of Honour for the Cannes Film Market 2022, set to run in Cannes from May 17 to 25. India is celebrating its 75th year of independence just as the Festival de Cannes celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. A momentous milestone for both institutions!

Following the opening of the India Pavilion on May 18, the celebrations kicked off during the Marché's traditional Opening Night festivities on Wednesday night at the Majestic Beach with an introduction from the Marché du Film's Executive Directors Jérôme Paillard & Guillaume Esmiol and a welcome address from Anurag Singh Thakur, the Government of India's Minister for Information & Broadcasting.

With more than 3,000 movies made per year, India is the largest film producer in the world. Apart from Bollywood, the country is home to over 30 regional film industries, and its film sector is estimated to generate a revenue of €2.6 billion by 2024.

As one of the highlights of India's status as the Country of Honour, a special screening of a restored Indian classic film, 'Pratidhwandy' directed by Indian auteur Satyajit Ray, has been planned as part of the Festival's Cannes Classics selection. In addition, world premieres of a selection of Indian films will be held at the Olympia Cinema.

The India Forum will be the first event to open the conference program of the Marché du Film on Thursday (May 19) and will feature acclaimed personalities from India and around the world on its Main Stage. The panel discussion, "India: The Content Hub of the World," will feature the Government of India's Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Apurva Chandra, Chairperson of India's Central Board of Film Certification Prasoon Joshi and veteran Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, among others.

India will also be spotlighted through several of the Marché du Film's diverse group of industry programmes.

The India Pavilion has also returned to the Festival de Cannes at the iconic Village International. The India Pavilion, will showcase Indian cinema in all its linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity and will serve as a networking platform for delegates from across the global community. The pavilion's aim is to establish international partnerships in film shooting, distribution, production, script development, technology and promoting film sales and syndication.

This 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.

"We are delighted to have India as our Country of Honour this year at the Marché du Film; and even happier to be able to share the celebration of our anniversary that we have in common – 75 years of Indian independence coinciding with the 75th Festival de Cannes!" – Jérôme Paillard & Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Directors of the Marché du Film.

"We are extremely proud to be the Country of Honour at the upcoming edition of the Marché du Film, in the 75th year of our independence. We are taking giant strides in making India the content hub of the world, and this collaboration will be crucial in making the world better acquainted with what India has to offer." – Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

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