What makes Cannes the Mecca of movies?

Deepika Padukone chose a satin ensemble from Galvan London with beige Christian Louboutin heels and statement jewellery for a photo call at the French Riviera yesterday

Every year, on the day of the Cannes official line-up announcement, a big question haunts festival regulars in India, "How many films from India?" Mostly, it used to be nil, sometimes with a consolation of a selection in the categories, Un Certain Regard or Directors' Fortnight or Critics' Week.

Sometimes, it could be a documentary in Cannes Classique or Cinefondation. Next question, "How do countries like Iran, South Korea and Japan, leave alone the US and Europe, manage to make films fit for Cannes, while Bollywood, which is considered the largest film industry in the world, is left to count eggs year after year?"

Deepika chilled by the beach in a red maxi dress by Johanna Ortiz

Some consolatory pieces do appear as to how the Indian film industry is big enough to take care of its own distribution and is not dependent on film festivals like Cannes. Then there are some who enter their movies in the Marche du Film or Cannes Film Market and claim the film was screened at Cannes.

What makes Cannes the Mecca of movies? Film selections, eminent jury panels, global promotion, efficient organisation and the value it can deliver to participants. We will be discussing this over the next 12 days and after.

The film jury, headed by the Spanish master Pedro Almodóvar, includes actor Will Smith, Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, German actress Maren Ade, American actress Jessica Chastain and French actress Agnès Jaoui. Uma Thurman will head the Un Certain Regard jury. Cenefondation and Short Film Jury will be presided by Romanian director Cristian Mungiu. French actress Sandrine Kiberlain will head the Golden Camera Jury.

Actor-director Mathieu Amalric's Barabara will open the Un Certain Regard section. Masters Roman Polanski, Takashi Mike and Agnes Varda Jr will screen their films in the Out of Competition selections. Hong Song-soo is the only filmmaker whose two films will feature in the official selections - The Day After in competition and Claire's Camera in special screenings.

Cannes has decided to invest in new talents - FTII student Payal Kapadia's Afternoon Clouds along with a few student projects from film schools all over the world, and Assamese actor-director Rima Das's project will be screened. Cannes 70 years young is ready, and the red carpet has been rolled out for the world film industry to pass through the 24 steps to fame and stardom.