The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association has marked its presence at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival and it is so excited about the ‘feat’ that it is shocking! Frankly, the Association’s presence only underlines how the funds of the Association are being hopelessly wasted.
We hardly need to comment on the ridiculousness of IMPPA’s booth at Cannes. Reproduced hereunder is the press release from IMPPA, which itself underlines the complete bankruptcy of ideas in the Association:
IMPPA represents Indian Film Industry at Cannes
“Founded in 1937, the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) stands as the largest, oldest, and most esteemed producers’ association in India. IMPPA has a membership base of approximately 23,000 with over 10,000 active members all over India and the world.
“For representing the Indian Film Industry at Cannes Film Festival 2024, IMPPA has secured a prominent booth at CII Bharat Pavilion, Palais-1, Booth No. 24.01 and additionally, IMPPA will host a session on May 19, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. at the Indian Pavilion, followed by an exclusive Cocktail Party.
“This marks the first time an Indian association has orchestrated an organised presence at Cannes. Following the announcement of IMPPA’s plans to participate in the Cannes Film Festival for the benefit of its members in the month of February, IMPPA’s visionary project received good support from its members, resulting in over a dozen films (premiering films Avni Ki Kismat (Hindi), Suno Toh (Hindi), Tale Of Rising Rani (Hindi), Boondi Raita (Hindi), Humare Baarah (Hindi), Agnisakshi (Bhojpuri), promoted films Kaam Chalu Hai (Hindi), Chaar Lugaai (Hindi), Crab In A Bucket (Hindi), My Best Friend Dadu (Gujarati), Saksham (Hindi), Sanyog (Bhojpuri)) being selected. With Cannes recognised as the world’s premiere market place for films, IMPPA has conceptualised a large platform for Hindi, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and other regional films.
“We are committed to ensuring that all Indian film producers are always fully equipped to reach out to the international audience which can only be done through international festivals held in various parts of the world, and IMPPA taking part in Cannes Film Festival is just the beginning as in future IMPPA envisages a breakthrough in the international film market because of its rich, cultural diversity and values which are highlighted in our films. Furthermore, IMPPA is also offering exclusive membership deals for international members.
“Leading the IMPPA delegation to Cannes is president Shri Abhay Sinha, alongside senior vice president Ms. Sushama Shiromanee, vice president Shri Atul Patel, FMC general secretary Shri Nishant Ujjwal, other esteemed executive committee members and IMPPA members participating in premiering and promoting films.
“So for Shri Abhay Sinha and all of us at IMPPA, the real market is the world, and Cannes Film Festival 2024 is just the beginning.”
What a waste of Association funds this trip will be can be gauged from the horrendously worded press release, list of films selected for screening, photographs made available to the media from Cannes, etc.
The only thing IMPPA needs to be lauded for is its guts to imagine that international producers would be dying to take its membership. Why else would it offer “exclusive membership deals for international members”? Just why?