NFDC absence at Cannes intriguing

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

CANNES, MAY 12. The Cannes International Film Festival, now into its third day here, has for several decades now doubled up as a major centre of trade. Literally hundreds of movies are bought and sold during the 12 days of the event on the French Riviera.

India, as the largest motion picture producing country - with about 600-odd films popping out of the cans every year, much more than Hollywood's 400-odd - has had a presence in the Cannes market for many summers.

However, this May, the National Film Development Corporation, whose stall served not only as the focal point of buying and selling but as a meeting venue for Indians, is conspicuous by its absence.

The Corporation's decision not to participate in what is certainly the largest market of its kind anywhere on this globe must have been taken at the eleventh hour.

For, the market guide and the map have the NFDC listed in them, and it is only when one walks into the designated slot (FOA) that one sees the empty spot.

If sources at the Cannes market are to be believed, the space was bought long ago, and the rent of nearly Rs. 3 lakhs already paid for by the Corporation.

Will it get a refund? Nobody here is sure, but it is appalling that the NFDC, which comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, messed around with such a huge amount.

This is all the more regrettable at a time when serious efforts are being made in just about every nation to find the right balance between art and commerce.

``It is kind of what the movie business is all about - trying to make art and commerce work together,'' says Mr. Joe Drake, president of Lions Gate International. ``The big struggle in our industry is trying to make business and creative sides have something to do with each other.''

This year, this link between the two can be closer than ever before. Mr. Gilles Jacob, chief of the Festival, has, by choosing Mr. Luc Besson president of the main jury, clearly affirmed that cinema and Cannes can no longer afford to ignore the mainstream films. Mr. Besson belongs to the more popular variety of celluloid, and it is, at this point of time, open to conjecture whether he would honour works like Rosetta and Humanity, previous Golden Palm winners.

However, Mr. Jacob sought to console those perturbed over this choice of Mr. Besson by honouring the late Louis Bunuel, Spanish director whose masterpieces have enriched the annals of cinema.

There it goes: Mr. Jacob's or Cannes attempt at bridging the two poles of art and money. Obviously, there is an exceptional interest in the outcome this season.

While it is too early to say which way artistic Cannes is headed for, it is easy to discern the direction that commercial Cannes has taken.

A swanky, new extension, just behind the main Palace, has come up. The 70,000 square-foot complex, almost in the blue Mediterranean Sea, houses 100 companies and eight 70-seater screening theatres.

This complex is self- sufficient in just about every respect. There is a roof garden, there are cafes and there are computer terminals that anybody with a Festival badge can use.

Market watchers aver that movie business is picking up, and by looking at the bright, glittering pavilions, it is not very hard to believe this. But till about the time the last of the films are screened at the Palace and this year's festival pulls the curtains down, one can never tell how much is going to flow into the coffers.

But the market has another purpose to serve. It also publicises a region's cinema, thus making it known, even popular. At a meeting here today with the leading movie-maker, Mr. Ken Loach (whose Bread and Roses is competing), it came as a rude shock to this correspondent when the man said he was not quite familiar with Indian cinema.

The NFDC was originally established to promote good cinema both within and outside the country. Today, the Corporation's work appeared such a failure.

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Section  : International
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