May 16th 2024.
On Wednesday, the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off with the grand opening of the Bharat Pavilion. The event was graced by esteemed guests such as Sanjay Jaju, the Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India in France. Other notable attendees included Tholoana Rose Ncheke, Chairperson of South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation, Christian Jeune, Director of the Films Department at Cannes Film Festival, and renowned Canadian director Richie Mehta, known for his work on the Netflix series "Delhi Crime".
Jaju, in his speech, expressed his joy at the increasing number of Indian projects being featured in this year's Cannes official selection. He mentioned that one project would be competing in the festival's main category, while another would be shown in the Uncertain Regard section. He also added that both of these projects had received support from the government in the form of incentives and official core productions.
The Bharat Pavilion, organized annually by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry of the Government of India, is managed by the National Film Development Corporation and FICCI. Jaju highlighted the importance of the Pavilion in providing a platform for networking, collaboration, and promotion of Indian cinema on a global scale. He expressed his desire for closer ties between the Indian audio-visual industry and its international counterparts, ultimately showcasing Indian cinema to the world.
Later in the event, Mehta, one of the most notable guests, shared his thoughts on the significance of the Cannes Film Festival in his career. He credited the festivals for helping him establish his career and acted as a launching pad for his success. As a Canadian Indian, Mehta also saw himself as a bridge between Indian storytellers and the international community. He believed in exporting the best of Indian storytelling, not just in terms of films but also in terms of the rich culture and diverse people behind these stories. This would ultimately showcase the beauty and depth of Indian cinema to the world.
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