NEW DELHI: After having tasted a bit of blood in the international market, India and various apex chambers of commerce are going full steam ahead to tap the global entertainment market more effectively.

The Cannes Film Festival is here once again, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is headed for Cannes to showcase the Indian entertainment sector at Marche du film. CII is putting up the India pavilion at the cream of film festivals. The event unfolds from 12-22 May. The India Pavilion has the support of information and broadcasting ministry and National Film Development Corporation.

The India Pavilion will help promote Goa as the new and permanent venue of the India International film festival.

Other Indian companies who will make their presence felt at the fest include various exporters - the Eros Group, National Film Development Corporation, Mukta Arts, Raas Entertainment, Kaleidoscope, Insight Productions, Giriraj Entertainment, Dreamworld Entertainment and WEG India. Indian companies are planning to throw five cocktail parties to promote new films and the "India Night Celebrations" on Carlton Beach will be repeated. Like last year, this year too CII will be holding an 'India Evening'.

Every year, the Cannes Film Festival brings together over 7,000 participants from 70 countries, including 16,000 buyers. 14,000 screenings of 700 different films, a majority of which are world premiers, are organised in the 30 venues. The festival attracts the world's media attention for its coveted award the "Palm d'Or" and a win means instant world fame.

The CII initiative will serve an excellent platform to interface with international film making community and will help the Indian film industry understand the international production, distribution and exhibition market scenarios better. This year, for the first time in the history of Indian cinema, close to 50 Indian films will be screened in 10 days. Over 300 delegates from India including Subhash Ghai, Shekhar Kapur, Deepak Nayyar, Ronnie Screwvala, Bobby Bedi, Dileep Singh Rathore and Sushil Tyagi are attending the event.

The Film Market section has registered over 70 Indian films and film projects this year at the fest, - a growing indication that Bollywood is catching the world's imagination. Incidentally, Cannes has created a new section called 'Cine Classic' and they have officially selected the Bollywood classic 'Mother India'. Vinod Ganatra's 'Heda-Hoda' (Blind Camel), a children's film, has been selected in the children's film section of the Festival.

There has been a significant increase in participation from India over the last three years.