The Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes Film Market are not the same! Erroneous media reports

The hype created by social media is unlike any other, and the same can be said for the coverage around the ongoing 2022 Cannes Film Festival. There is a strong increase in discourse around the Festival, compared to previous years.

Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, announced earlier in May that India would be the first to be considered the “country of honour” at the Cannes Film Market, the commercial event of the Festival, and this honor would be awarded to different nations in the following editions. Thakur, along with a few other government officials, accompanied stars and celebrities to the Festival, which kicked off on May 17 this year. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been chosen to be an official member of the jury to judge this year’s Palme d’Or, or Grand Prize, awarded to the Festival’s best film. The Indian government had also planned to give a boost to AV startups at the event, giving them global exposure.

This has sparked additional conversation about India at Cannes and has highlighted the films to be screened there, more than usual. Social media has been abuzz with news about the many films set to screen at the Cannes Film Festival, and how much it means for young filmmakers returning home. The excitement around the films at the various festival events has only grown, and people are missing the difference between the current Cannes Film Festival and its economic counterpart, the Cannes Film Festival. Film Market.

For example, many thought that ‘Rocketry – The Nambi Effect’, directed by R Madhavan, was part of the official selection, and that it had its world premiere in one of the Festival theatres. Technically, it was screened at the Cannes Film Market. An explainer was reported by The Indian Expresshere.

A Twitter user, for another example, shared this article by IndoreTalkwhich refers to a misleading article by Dainik Bhaskar. The article contains a video that claims the Cannes Film Festival screenings as part of the official selection, and at no point mentions the Cannes Film Market. The video states that India is the country of honor for the Cannes Film Festival, and again, does not mention the Cannes Film Market. The video also refers to the fact that films and documentaries are carefully selected from around the world for the competition, and goes on to say that six Indian films will be screened at this year’s Festival.

Another example of erroneously reported events is the article in the New Indianwho would have changed the title when called out for being wrong.

The editor of the New Indian tweeted the article with this title: “India @ Cannes: Will an Indian film win a prestigious Palme d’Or?”

India @ Cannes: Will an Indian film win the prestigious Palme d’Or?

For the uninitiated, India has been chosen as the Marché du Film’s first official “country of honor”, alongside Cannes, coinciding with the 75th year of I-Day, writes@navneet_mundhra. https://t.co/RxpSa9rtTY

—Rohan Dua (@rohanduaT02) May 17, 2022

Events, EExplain

The Cannes Film Festival, or Cannes Film Festival, is an invitation-only film festival held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. With previews of new films, ranging from different genres and languages, there is an official selection for the Palme D’or, or the Grand Prix. Over the years, it has become more than a matter of movies, due to red carpet fashion with designers putting their best foot forward in star looks.

The Marché du Film, or Cannes Film Market, is the “business” or economic counterpart of the main Festival. Considering its position as one of the largest film markets in the world, it is, as the official website states, “THE meeting place” for professionals in the global film industry, which include producers, distributors, programmers, buyers, etc. This is the first year that the event has announced a “country of honor”, ​​and it will continue with different nations as the focus in subsequent editions.

These are two separate events, with screenings taking place in both locations, for different prizes and acclaim. This is where the social media hype begins to overlap the two. That’s why there were so many Indians at the Rocketry screening in a video which was posted to show the 10-minute standing ovation the film received.

Selection Difference

The screenings of the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival are films and documentaries nominated in the different categories “In Competition”, “Un Certain Regard” and “Out of Competition”. Among the other categories of the official selection are the “Special screenings”, the “Cinéfondation”, the “Short films”, the “Cannes Classics” and the “Cinéma de la Plage”. These films are specifically selected from thousands of entries by the official selection committee.

On the other hand, screenings at the Marché du Film take place differently. A filmmaker only has to pay a fee for his film to premiere in one of the halls of the Marché du Film. It works for both parties as the people behind the Festival get the money and the filmmakers brag about having their film “screened in Cannes” while the film is being marketed. People often miss the Marche du Film aspect of screening when they talk about how these films are going to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

One of the Twitter users also brought this to light. He said: “I learned recently that you can basically rent rooms in Cannes and say your film premiered in Cannes. It’s not part of the official Cannes jury selection. Madhavan’s Rocketry is an example.”

I learned recently that you can basically rent theaters in Cannes and say your movie premiered in Cannes. He is not part of the official selection of the Cannes jury. An example is Madhavan’s Rocketry.

— Ramesh (@rmshnt27) May 21, 2022

Another Twitter user said the screening at the Marché du Film “isn’t as groundbreaking as most people think”.

Which isn’t as revolutionary as most people think. This is essentially the business expo side of Cannes. It is not uncommon to have, say, 800 films screened at the Film Market. 6 of them happen to be Indians this time. Screening out of competition.

— Anwesh Satpathy (@anwesh_satpathy) May 18, 2022

One user also pointed out that “the money spent on the ‘Indian delegation’ which gives great interviews about how great Modi’s rule is and the ‘Indian Pavilion’ at the Cannes Film Market is entirely funded by the Indian taxpayers’ money. ‘Bollywood Stars’ walk the red carpet to sell perfumes/cosmetics.’

2/1

And the money spent on the “Indian Delegation” which gives great interviews on how awesome Modi’s rule is and the “Indian Pavilion” at the Cannes Film Market is fully funded by Indian Tax Payers Money. The “Bollywood Stars” walk the red carpet to sell perfumes/cosmetics.

— Leena Manimekalai (@LeenaManimekali) May 21, 2022

The misleading article was also reported by one of the same Twitter users.

You would expect a “movie lover” to know better and a medium to have better research skills. Only the films in competition win the Palme d’Or and no Indian film this year is in competition for the Palme d’Or or Un Certain Qui @TheNewIndian_in @navneet_mundhra https://t.co/SzK7jkyKXh

— Anwesh Satpathy (@anwesh_satpathy) May 17, 2022

Films selected at Cannes Film Festive

India had the chance to present five Indian films selected in the Film Market’s “Goes to Cannes” category. And six films were also selected to be screened at the Marché du Film due to their diversity and diversity. However, no Indian film is part of the official selection ‘In Competition’ for the Palme D’or, nor in the category ‘Un Certain Regard’ or ‘Out of Competition’ this year.

This is not to discredit a film screened at another festival event. International recognition and direction still remains for the film and its director. The problem only arises when he misleads people into thinking he is part of the official selection when he is not.

According to the official website of Cannes film festival, the only Indian films that are part of the official selection of the selection committee of the main film festival this year, in other categories, are “All That Breathes” in the Special Screenings category, “Nauha” in the La Cinef, ‘Starfruits’ in the Cannes la Fabrique Cinema event, and ‘Pratiwandi’ and ‘Thampu’ in the Cannes Classics category. However, no Indian films are currently screened for the Palme d’Or, or officially competing in the main event.

In a Facebook message from Bijukumar Damodaran, whose film “Saira” was screened in the “All Cinemas of the World” category in 2007, expressed his thoughts on the fact that India has no film in the official selection, which is “In Competition” for the Palme d’Or since 1994.

India at Cannes 2022

2022 marks the 75th year of the coveted Festival. With actress Deepika Padukone on the jury this year to judge the long-awaited Palme d’Or, it’s no small feat. Having an Indian on the jury also represents what Indian cinema is, in its current state. Author Mrinal Sen was the first Indian to serve on the jury in 1982.

India was named “Country of Honor” at the Marché du Film this year, due to 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and France. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to French President Macron takes on even more significance in this context. India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, who is part of the Indian delegation to Cannes this year, added that the status would ensure India’s presence as a country of interest, showing its cinema , its culture and its heritage, during the opening night. of the Film Market, reported by The business line. This has added to the hype surrounding Cannes this year as it would promote the audiovisual elements and startups of Indian cinema globally.

Screenings in the Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival and screenings at the Marché du Film are different. Some Indian films have been selected by the Indian government to be screened in the various halls of the film market. No Indian films were shortlisted for the main competition for the Palme d’Or this year, and only a few were selected to be screened in the official selection for different categories.

Also Read: Hindu Festivals Not Celebrated at HDFC Bank in Barabanki? No, the image is going viral with a fake community angle!