75th Festival de Cannes 2022 has been a breathtaking journey! It is truly a paradise for filmmakers and cinema aficionados and everyone who believes that good storytelling can alter their perspectives towards life. One of the world’s biggest, glamourous and glitziest film festival, it speaks so loudly to a passionate few who breathes cinema. Someday, perhaps I’ll walk the red carpet with the ‘Palme d'Or in hand!
One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Deepika Padukone. She was also one of the esteemed juries of the 75th Festival de Cannes. Probably one of the most kindest and down to earth souls existing in Bollywood. It was a surreal moment when she asked me where I came from. She was delighted when I told her that I came all the way from Bangalore to Cannes. FYI to those who aren't aware she's from the same city. It's a special feeling when you meet a global celebrity like her who represented India in Hollywood films and other prestigious events yet so humble in person.
I also met the music maestro AR Rahman during his VR film premiere 'LE MUSK'. Priceless would be an understatement.
The first time I came to know about the festival was when I saw the 2007 film ‘Mr. Bean’s Holiday’ where he wins a trip to Cannes, but on his way there, he is mistaken for both a kidnapper and an award-winning filmmaker when he travels with both a Russian filmmaker's son and an aspiring actress in tow! The film was really heart warming and left such a charm on me that I made it a point to visit the festival in person someday.
Next in the year 2010, I came across the festival when my NIT DGP college senior Harsh Vardhan Singh made a short film (The Uncaptured Passion) which was selected for the 63rd Cannes Film Festival and had a world premiere on May 21, 2010, at Palaise de festival, Cannes. He was a great mentor to me and I felt a strong calling towards the festival and making films and realised that perhaps it’s the one thing that can keep me going as coding wasn’t meant for me. A desk job wasn’t ideal to fuel to my aspirations as a traveler and storyteller.
In the year 2013, I read the book ‘The Winner Stands Alone’ by Paulo Coelho which takes place at the Cannes Film Festival, where the so-called superclass—those who have made it in the dream maker's world of fashion and cinema—gathers. It was a fascinating read and I got to know some deep insights into the festival.I was planning to attend the festival but the pandemic altered a lot of things in the last two years.
“The festival has launched the careers of some of the most prominent filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh.”
When the festival authorities announced India is the first 'country of honour' at the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes and the integration of NFTs in their festival circuit I knew I had to visit. All I had was the pitch deck and proof of concept video for our sci fi anthology series ‘Behind Closed Doors’ and luckily I met some highly established worldwide directors and producers during my 8 days of stay there.
Cannes Festival opened up new doors of possibility for us and I have to say this was one of the best decisions of my life.
Special thanks to the French Consulate in Bangalore who also helped me in expediting my VISA. Thanks to the Universe too who conspired to make this dream a reality.
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“Cannes’s importance extends beyond awards recognition”
