India is committed to welcome the global film community to come and do business in the country and work closely with the domestic media and entertainment industry, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javdekar at the e-inauguration of the India Pavilion at the 61st Cannes Film Market.

Amidst the pandemic of coronavirus, the Government of India has committed to welcome the global film community to come and do business in India and work closely with the domestic media and entertainment industry. This message was conveyed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javdekar at the e-inauguration of the India Pavilion at the 61st Cannes Film Market, virtually attended by over 2000 film industry professionals across the globe.

Calling cinema the “soft power” of India, Javadekar said his Ministry is continuously working towards making India as film shooting and film friendly destination for the audiovisual sector. “Our Film Facilitation Office has facilitated over 80 foreign film shootings. Now, it will function as a single window for all Central and State government permissions. I appeal to the global film fraternity, to come invest and shoot in India.”

In a clear message that the ‘show must go on’, the global filmmaking community and industry professionals were conveyed that the 51st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will take place between November 20-28 later this year. Javadekar also unveiled the poster and the booklet for the IFFI 2020.

Adopting the new normal, and to keep the ethos of the virtual Indian participation at Cannes alive, the Indian Pavillion is expected to be buzzing with activities around co-production, film shooting in India, exports of Indan films and content, post production and networking. The Pavillion will facilitate B2B meetings and linkages between filmmakers and other media and entertainment industries stake holders (June 22-26, 2020).

Over a dozen dignitaries participated at the e-inauguration of the India Pavilion at the virtual Cannes Film Market. Over 90 Indian industry professionals representing 60 companies are part of the virtual Cannes film market.

In his address to the global film community, Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India announced that along with the Indian film industry, centenary celebration of legendary filmmaker Satyjit Ray will be celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 showcasing a retrospective of the iconic filmmaker. The 74th Edition of Cannes Film Festival is slated for May 14-25, 2021. It was announced earlier that IFFI 2020 and IFFI 2021 will pay tribute to legendary filmmaker of India Satyajit Ray.

Atul Kumar Tiwari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, in his opening remarks invited global film community to block their diaries to attend the 51st Edition of IFFI (November 20-28, 2020).

Michèle Waterhouse, Head of Coordination, Cannes Film Market said Marché du Film Online 2020 Edition is a a milestone in the history of the film industry. “It has been a difficult time for all with Covid-19 and the future remains rocky but we are here together and we thank all of you who have supported us in this endeavour. Together we are a strong force and we will continue to move forward to give Indian cinema its due place in the world,” said Waterhouse. India has been participating at the Cannes Film Market for over 20 years.

Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), moderated the inauguration of the India Pavilion and said the both physical and virtual markets are here to stay in the coming years and industry has to adopt to the changing needs. FICCI is managing the virtual India Pavilion at the online Cannes Film Market under the aegis of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

Shrila Dutta Kumar, Minister (Consular) Embassy of India to France assured assistance to the stakeholders of Indian film industry representatives to promote cooperative ventures with France in the area of film co-production and visas.

“We are going through very tough times and people have started seeing cinema in a different way, like how they are seeing their life differently. People will change the way they consume media. Our films have to delve in newer and fresher subjects,” said Prasoon Joshi, Lyricist and Chairman, CBFC.

Joshi maintained that cinema is an essential medium. “We say human being is a social animal. When did human become social?. Somewhere social needs became part of your life and over the years generations cinema has got hardwired into an essential medium… there will be a need for entertainment in some way or other”.

Other dignitaries including Madhur Bhandarkar, National Award-winning Director, D Suresh Babu, National Representative, Active Telugu Filmmakers Guild, Colin Burrows, Special Treats Productions, Kangana Ranaut, film personality, Usha Jadhav, Actor, Mai Ghat spoke at the India Pavilion inauguration.

TCA Kalyani, Joint Secretary (Films) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and MD, National Film Development Corporation thanked dignitaries in her vote of thanks.