Cannes: In a year that spells magic for Bharat at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, with numerous official selections across sections, the Bharat Pavilion was inaugurated on Wednesday at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France.

Hosted each year at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India, Bharat's participation is spearheaded by the National Film Development Corporation as the nodal agency and FICCI as the industry partner. The pavilion marks India’s continued commitment to showcasing its rich cinematic heritage and fostering international collaborations with the global film fraternity.

The grand inauguration ceremony was led by Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju, along with Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France.

The momentous inauguration was also witnessed by esteemed dignitaries, renowned filmmakers, and industry leaders coming together to celebrate the essence of Indian cinema. Guests present included Tholoana Rose Ncheke, Chairperson, National Film and Video Foundation, South Africa, Christian Jeune, Director of Films Department, Deputy General Delegate, Cannes Film Festival, and filmmaker Richie Mehta among others.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sanjay Jaju said, “Heartening to have more Indian projects in the Cannes official selection this year, one each in the competition and in uncertain regard, and let me also confess that both these projects have been the beneficiaries of support from the government in terms of the incentive as well as the official co-productions.”

“The Bharat Pavilion here would serve as a hub for networking, collaboration, and promotion of Indian cinema on the global stage. We would like to foster greater collaboration between the Indian audiovisual industry and international counterparts, thereby enhancing the visibility and accessibility of Indian cinema worldwide and serve the national goal of using the power of cinema to enhance the country's soft touch,” added the Secretary.

“India is gaining attention worldwide, both geopolitically and economically, due to its philosophical contributions, thoughts, and ideas. Its role in a multipolar world of great uncertainty is significant as we transition from the existing international order into a new one. All these aspects are interconnected, making it increasingly important for us to have a greater presence abroad, particularly in cinema,” said Jawed Ashraf.

“It’s such a momentous occasion for Indian cinema here. Personally, for me, I wouldn’t have a career if not for the film festival community. The festivals have helped me basically unlock a career. And also, one of my missions has been to, as a Canadian Indian, export the best of Indian storytelling, and I'm not talking about from a film standpoint, I'm talking about from the stories, from people on the ground, from the amazing culture that we have to show the world. It’s a real honour to be a part of this inaugural,” said Richie Mehta.

Many states like Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra among others are present representing India at the Cannes Film Market this year to pitch their exquisite locales for international film shoots and to promote state incentives for filming to producers and production houses. Three films which have been shot in India through partnerships with India's Film Facilitation Office (FFO) have been shortlisted in various sections at this year's festival.

Notably, this is the first time ever that the UT of J&K is participating in the Cannes Film Market and reaching out to global film production companies to shoot in what is popularly known as 'Heaven on Earth.' The film incentive policy of J&K is less than a year old, and on the very first day, the response received through business meetings with several stakeholders has been more than encouraging, the officials at the J&K booth said.

The Bharat Pavilion serves as a dynamic platform, providing a gateway to the diverse landscape of Indian films, talent, and industry opportunities and is set to host a series of scintillating panel discussions and networking sessions during the course of the 77th Cannes Film Festival. /BI