Why Filmmakers Can't Do Without Cannes

First met independent Assamese filmmaker Rima Das in 2017 at the Marché du Film or Cannes Film Market, when her second feature, Village Rockstars, was featured in the ‘HAF Goes To Cannes’ initiative.

- NAMRATA JOSHI

Having been part of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), it had made its way to the market’s prestigious platform which provided Das the opportunity to look for post-production funds and pitch to sales agents and other festivals.

Goes To Cannes, a tailor-made programme at the Cannes Film Market, aims to discover new-generation talents through their works-in-progress, selected and curated by partner festivals like the HAF. Thanks to it, not only did Das get a great mentor in the famous editor, Jacques Comets, who guided her with the first cut of Village Rockstars, but found the world opening its door for her modest indie. The film played at hundreds of international festivals, thanks to the initial exposure at Cannes. At Toronto and San Sebastian, it was the first film from Northeast India to be featured in the official selection. It won the National Award for the best film in 2018 and represented India at the Oscars.