France loves India by Gabriele Brennen

Like the Gods and Godesses of India, its Cinema too has many arms and faces.
It is these multiple facets which we want to put within reach of the professionals and public in France.

In this country as big as a continent, where several hundred languages are spoken, amongst which 22 are recognized as official languages, the film production counts more than 1200 full-length films a year and approximately 5000 shorts, figures to be compared with the 230 full-length films and approximately 500 shorts produced in France. Every day 23 million Indians go to the cinema seing films in different langages in more than
40 000 theatres, which means more than 5 billion viewers a year. There are also more than 500 television channels

So let us go beyond appearances and discover what the society, the culture, and the problems of India really are. Between tradition and modernity, let us feel the intrigue and the enchantment and savour the artistic wealth of the Indian cinema which at this moment in time is experiencing an unparalleled boom, just like its economy.

What better place than Paris to begin to radiate out into the world? Just like the Bollywood productions, the independent Indian cinema must now take its place on the main stage of world cinema.

Gabriele Brennen