The NFDC Film Bazaar Heads To The Cannes Film Market With 5 Indie Titles

With the pandemic having brought the global festival circuit to a standstill, a number of leading film festivals and markets are taking place online.

Among them is the Cannes Film Market {Marché du Film } which usually takes place in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival. Widely considered to be the biggest international film market, the event draws more than 12,000 industry professionals every year. The market brings together filmmakers in search of financing and distribution, as well as festival programmers and distributors on the lookout for the next gem to capitalise on.

In another first, this year, India's NFDC Film Bazaar, South Asia's largest film market which takes place annually in Goa, announced an official partnership with the Cannes Market. Film Bazaar is all set to present 5 work-in-progress Indian films – movies in various stages of production and are yet to be completed. These will be pitched to international festival programmers, distributors and sales representatives at the Marché du Film Online.

Speaking about the partnership, NFDC's Managing Director T.C.A Kalyani said, "We are giving the world exposure to the emerging talent from our region that is South Asia", adding "This collaboration has come at a right time and we look forward to this being the first of many".

Over the years, films such as The Lunchbox, Eeb Allay Ooo!, Newton, Court and Dum Lagake Haisha among many others have been through one or more programs of the Bazaar. As to whether Film Bazaar 2020, typically held in November, will be going ahead, Managing Director Kalyani confirmed it would but the format yet to be decided and it may well be virtual.

The five work-in-progress films from NFDC Film Bazaar to be pitched at the Marché du Film Online are:

Two Friends (Dostojee) by Prasun Chatterjee – Bengali

The story of an innocent friendship between two boys crosses the barriers built by religion and society, until they find themselves fatefully separated.

Fire in the Mountains by Ajitpal Singh – Hindi

In a Himalayan village, a mother strains herself to raise money to build a road for her handicapped son while her husband vies for her money to perform an ancient ritual to cure the child.

Pedro by Natesh Hegde – Kannada

A middle-aged electrician living with his brother's family in a remote village accidentally commits a disgraceful act, leading to unexpected reactions from the villagers.

 Shankar's Fairies by Irfana Majumdar – Hindi

Set in 1962 Lucknow, a young girl from a privileged family shares a bond with her family's servant based on imagination and stories. Underlying their innocent relationship are two worlds divided by class.

The Knot (Uljhan) by Ashish Pant – Hindi

A middle-class couple have a car accident one night. Their differing reactions to the fallout from the accident open up fissures in their relationship and puts their beliefs to the test.