Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_ Actress Jacqueline Fernandez is scheduled to make an appearance at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, adding to the glamour of the event. Expressing her anticipation for the red carpet, Jacqueline stated, “I am super excited to go to the Cannes Film Festival once again this year, this time in association with BMW and I cannot wait for it. It feels great to represent the Southeast Asian diaspora at a global level, and it’s an honour to walk the prestigious red carpet where many legends have already walked.”
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In parallel, the inauguration of the Bharat Pavilion also took place at the festival on Wednesday. Accordingly, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju, accompanied by Jawed Ashraf, the Ambassador of India to France, participated in the event, representing the country. Organized annually by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of the Government of India, Bharat’s presence at Cannes is coordinated by the National Film Development Corporation as the central agency and FICCI as the industry partner.
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The pavilion signifies India’s ongoing commitment to featuring its vast cinematic heritage and promoting international collaborations within the global film community. Accordingly, several states and union territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra, are representing India at the Cannes Film Market this year. Additionally, Tholoana Rose Ncheke, Chairperson of the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa; Christian Jeune, Director of the Films Department and Deputy General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival; and filmmaker Richie Mehta also graced the Bharat Pavilion inauguration.
Addressing the audience, Sanjay Jaju remarked that it is encouraging to see more Indian projects featured in the Cannes official selection this year, particularly in the competitive Un Certain Regard category. He revealed that both of these projects have received support from the government in terms of incentives and official co-productions. According to him, the Bharat Pavilion will serve as a focal point for networking, collaboration, and the promotion of Indian cinema globally. It will facilitate greater collaboration between the Indian audio-visual industry and its international counterparts, thereby increasing the visibility and accessibility of Indian cinema worldwide, in line with the national objective of leveraging cinema’s soft power.
Furthermore, Richie Mehta shared his perspective on the festival, stating that it is a significant moment for Indian cinema. He lauded the film festivals, as they played a major role in shaping his career. According to him, it was a genuine honor to be part of the inaugural event. Additionally, Jawed Ashraf emphasized India’s growing global significance, both geopolitically and economically, citing its philosophical contributions and role in the evolving international landscape. He stressed the interconnectedness of these aspects, highlighting the importance of India’s expanded presence abroad, particularly in cinema.
This year marks the debut of Bharat Parv at the Cannes Film Festival, providing a platform to connect with film stars, filmmakers, directors, producers, buyers, and sales agents from around the world, demonstrating creative opportunities and India’s rich pool of talent. Additionally, the official poster and trailer for the 55th India International Film Festival (IFFI), scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, will also be disclosed at the Bharat Parv.
