Cannes world cinema puts spotlight on India, Lebanon .. and more

Crowds gather outside the festival Palace in cannes during the annual Film Festival. India, Lebanon, Poland, Africa, Colombia and Slovenia are spotlighted at this year's festival event "All The World's Films."[AFP]

"All the world's a stage" wrote Shakespeare, and this year at Cannes, India, Lebanon, Poland, Africa, Colombia and Slovenia are spotlighted at the festival event "All The World's Films".

The world cinema affair is a recent and increasingly popular addition to the 12-day annual movie extravaganza, showcasing the vast and rich variety of cinema produced around the globe.

The idea was born when Cannes filmfest president Gilles Jacob was looking to find ways "to bring more countries with their films to Cannes", said Serge Sobczynski, who heads up the global cinema programme.

Only a handful of films make it into the official competition -- 22 are competing for the top Palme d'Or prize this year -- or into other prestige sidebar events such as "Director's Fortnight". And these are selected strictly on artistic merit rather than cultural diversity.

Jacob's goal, "was to have another vision of global cinema by selecting films that reflect what is happening in these countries as well as illustrating their artistic merits," Sobczynski told AFP in an interview.

But this snapshot of world cinema was never intended as a way to mop up films that failed to be selected for competition, Sobczynski stressed.

"We try to include cinema from all the four continents. Rich as well as poor countries, and large and small ones," he said. "The aim is to have a good mix and not create a ghetto."

Now in its third year, "All The World's Films" has already showcased films from 22 countries.

India, home to the giant "Bollywood" cinema industry, heads up this year's bill. Like the Cannes festival, which turns 60 this year, 2007 is also a special one for India as it marks the 60th anniversary of its independence.

The other countries sharing the diverse programme are Lebanon, Poland, Colombia and Slovenia.

There will also be an Africa day, featuring four films, one from Angola and Kenya, and two from Guinea.

Angola's "O Heroi" by Zeze Gamboa is the story of a man discharged from the army after losing his leg, bringing home the grim effects of war on ordinary people.

As well as acting as an international launch pad, "All The World's Films" also gives the often young film producers invited a better understanding of the international business.

One filmmaker now making waves on the international stage after being discovered at the event is Tunisian-born Nejib Belkadhi.

"VHS Kahloucha", his documentary on the exploits of house painter and popular Tunisian amateur filmmaker Moncef Kalhoucha was snapped up at Cannes last year by several prestigious film festivals, including Robert Redford's Sundance in the United States.