The India Pavilion at Festival De Cannes will commence on May 13, showcasing the country's cinema to the world audience in France.
The Pavilion, which is organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) opens a day after the 63rd Cannes Film Festival kickstarts on May 12.
It will be inaugurated by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Raghu Menon in the presence of filmmaker Subhash Ghai, music composer Shankar Mahadevan and singer-actor Himesh
Reshammiya among others.
"It sure will be a great moment of glory for whole of Indian cinema. The stellar gathering literally echoes the sentiments for globalisation of film-trade," said Sujata Dev, Chairperson of Assocham Committee for Media and Entertainment.
"Two films which are expected to be premiered at the India Pavilion are 'Hiss' starring Mallika Sherawat by Jenifer Lynch and 'Love Barack', an Indo American Production by Doug Mchenry," Dev said.
India Pavilion will also host workshops on subjects like visual co-production agreements, contribution of noted filmmaker Mrinal Sen to world cinema, IPR & copyright regime, IFFI Goa, India: 'The Emerging Animation Hub, Digital
Platforms, Required Cinemas and Parallel Cinema'.
Also, the Pavilion run at the prestigious festival, which ends on May 23, will facilitate the screening of films from independent and new film makers like 'Gafla' by Sameer Hanchante, 'Baangdya' by K K Jape, 'Akkar Bakkar' by Avijit
Dutt as well as 'Fatal Love' by Irshul Ishu.
Multiple trailers and promos of forthcoming films from leading Indian production companies are expected to be shown during the festival.
Promos of films like 'India Fables', 'Alibaba and 41 Chor' by Accel Animation, 'Sultan the Warrior' by Ocher Studios, 'Badmaash Company' by Yash Raj Films, 'Ferrari ki Savari', 'Munna Bhai Chale America', 'Broken Horses' and 'Taalisman' by Vinod Chopra Productions will also be screened.
ASSOCHAM is planning to release jointly with Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, a comprehensive directory of Indian Producers along with their contact details, handbooks
on Legal Issues, Cinema, Television and IT, a publication on the salient features of Co- Productions and a brochure on the theme "India as a Filming Destination" at the Cannes Festival.
The I&B ministry has shortlisted ASSOCHAM to organise the India Pavilion and mobilising the Indian film industry's participation at the festival.
Eminent Indian film personalities have also been a part of the film jury. Last year it was Sharmila Tagore and this year the country will be represented by Shekhar Kapur.
An Indian film, 'Udaan' directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Anurag Kashyap has been selected to be screened at 'Un Certain Regard' section.
Mrinal Sen's film, 'Khandahar' (The Ruins) will be screened in the Cannes Classics Section, as a tribute to this great Indian filmmaker.