French film fest kicks off in town with star-studded inaugural

The second edition of the French Film Festival, Kolkata, which celebrates the rich tapestry of French and Indian cinema, got off to a star-studded start at Nandan on Saturday evening. The star guests included Naseeruddin Shah, Anubhav Sinha, Goutam Ghose, Rituparna Sengupta, Anasuya Sengupta and Rukmini Maitra.

Kolkata is the city whose citizens have put India on the world map of cinema with the unparalleled contributions of greats like Tapan Sinha, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and many others
– Naseeruddin Shah

The French Film Festival is a beacon of Indo-French friendship and the second edition of the 3FK is the deepening and widening of the ties between the two nations
– Didier Talpain, Consul General of France in Kolkata

I love Kolkata, and also the films and food they make here. The city is fortunate to have so many film festivals– Anubhav Sinha, filmmaker

Eight-day fest to celebrate Indian, French cinema

(L-R) Pritimoy Chakraborty, Anasuya Sengupta. Goutam Ghose, Didier Talpain, Naseeruddin Shah, Nicolas Facino, Rituparna Sengupta and Anubhav Sinha light the lamp to inaugurate the festival

Festival director and the director of Alliance Francaise Du Bengale, Nicolas Facino, and Consul General of France in Kolkata Didier Talpain felicitated the guests, including actor & casting director Trishaan Sarkar, and festival chief advisor Pritimoy Chakraborty. The eight-day festival has a packed schedule, with multiple screenings slotted at Nandan, and discussions and more on the Alliance Francaise premises.

‘Kolkata is an overgrown small town’

Goutam Ghose

Speaking to the guests at the inaugural, Naseeruddin Shah started off with a Mirza Ghalib and said, “Whenever I come here, I feel like quoting Mirza Ghalib, who came to Kolkata in the middle of the 19th century and wished to stay back here for the love of this city. I share the same emotion.” The
veteran actor added, “This city has given me a great deal of affection. It’s an overgrown small town where everyone knows everyone,
and you find friends in every corner.”

Quotes:
Be it cinema, food or passion, India and France have a deep connection. Cinema gives us fodder for life; enriches us– Rituparna SenguptaThe greatest strength of Kolkata is its audience– Goutam GhoseThis year, 3FK will showcase over 82 films in different sections. Indo-French ties go way back in time, when a number of French movies were shot in Kolkata and vice versa – Nicolas Facino, director, Alliance Francaise du Bengale and the 3FK

Nicolas Facino

Trishaan Sarkar