France is the Country in Focus at IFFI

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, India was named the ‘Country of Honour’ at the Marche du Cinema of the Cannes Film Festival this year. This first-ever honour, conferred on India, symbolises the significant role that cinema plays in the cultural relationship between the two countries. To reciprocate, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI Goa) will feature France in the ‘Country Focus’ segment. Featuring films by august French directors such as Claire Denis, Mia Hansen Love, Florence Miailhe and more, the festival will take place from 20th to 28th November 2022. 

Ahead of IFFI, Michel Plazanet, the Deputy Director of International Affairs at CNC (the equivalent of NDFC in France) spoke about how co-production lies at the heart of France’s film industry and how it could benefit Indian filmmakers. With 2000+ movie theatres and 6000+ screens, France remains the biggest film market in Europe and 40% of all French feature films are co-productions. To encourage international coproductions, the CNC and Institut français have set up a fund called aide aux cinémas du monde, which is open to filmmakers from any country. Previously, Indian projects like Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, this year’s official Indian entry for the Oscars Chello Show (Last Film Show), Rohena Gera’s Sir and Geetanjali Rao’s Bombay Rose have benefited from this fund. According to Plazanet, two-thirds of all the films funded by aide aux cinémas du monde make it to the main international film festivals.