At the CII-Bharat Pavilion, the Indian Ambassador to France expresses happiness about Jammu and Kashmir representing the rich shooting locations of India this year and added that it would be a delight to the global filmmakers to shoot in India
Our Bureau
Cannes (France)
The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival witnessed a significant moment as the inauguration ceremony of the Bharat Pavilion took place on Wednesday. Filmmaker Richie Mehta graced the occasion, highlighting the monumental occasion for Indian cinema and its global outreach.
Reflecting on the significance of Indian storytelling, Mehta expressed, “The festivals have helped me basically unlocking a career. And also one of my missions has been to, as a Canadian Indian to 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 inauguration.”
His words resonated with the essence of the event, emphasizing the rich cultural tapestry that Indian cinema weaves on the global stage. The event was attended by dignitaries representing India, including Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and H.E. Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India to France.
On the sidelines of the CII-Bharat Pavilion at Cannes, the Indian Ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf has expressed happiness about Jammu and Kashmir representing the rich shooting locations of India this year and added that it would be a delight to the global filmmakers to shoot in India.
He further invited global filmmakers to explore the business opportunities in India, and in the Union territory as well.
In his address to the global audience present in the inaugural ceremony of the CII-Bharat Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market, the Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, Ashraf said, “I am delighted that this year Jammu and Kashmir is representing the rich shooting locations of India which would be a delight to the global filmmakers to shoot in India. I hope that there will be lots of business opportunities explored by the global filmmakers with India’s participation.”
At the Pavilion’s opening, Jaju conveyed his excitement about India’s integrated presence at the Cannes Film Market, which provides a wealth of creative, networking, and international cooperation opportunities for filmmakers, producers, and exhibitors.
“I appeal to the foreign producers to explore the country’s diverse geography, rich heritage, and lucrative incentives. The robust support provided by the Film Facilitation Office for shooting in India, coupled with the availability of skilled post-production facilities would provide a great experience to the global film-makers to create in India for the world,” Jaju said, according to an official release.
At the opening of the CII pavilion, the Secretary announced WAVES (World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit), a global media and entertainment summit being organised on the fringes of the International Film Festival of India in Goa, for the first time and urged the world community to set aside time in their calendars for the same.
Hosted annually at Cannes by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India, the Bharat Pavilion underscores the nation’s commitment to showcasing its cinematic heritage and fostering international collaborations. Various states and union territories such as Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra participated, showcasing India’s diverse cinematic landscape at the Cannes Film Market.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, India will host a Bharat Parv at the Cannes Film Festival, providing a platform to engage with industry stakeholders from across the world. This initiative aims to showcase the creative opportunities and abundant talent pool present in India’s film industry.
Moreover, the Bharat Parv will witness the unveiling of the official poster and trailer of the 55th India International Film Festival (IFFI), scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28. This adds another layer of anticipation and excitement to India’s presence at Cannes. The inauguration of the Bharat Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival marks a significant milestone for Indian cinema, reinforcing its global footprint and fostering international partnerships in the world of filmmaking.
