Film festivals today are often as closely associated with fashion statements and red-carpet appearances as they are with cinema. Recently, filmmaker-actor Anurag Kashyap weighed in on the debate, saying festivals like Cannes should remain a platform for films, storytelling, and creative exchange rather than becoming solely a glamour spectacle.
Actor Anupriya Goenka, who made her debut on the festival’s red carpet and premiered her film Bombay Stories there, resonates with his point of view.
"It’s essentially a film festival and it should be all about cinema, storytelling, and meeting creative minds from across the globe," says Anupriya, adding, "The major focus has to be storytelling and films, rather than anything else. There is so much creativity around you there, and that should be celebrated more."
The 39-year-old says one of the most enriching aspects of attending international film festivals is interacting with filmmakers, producers, and actors from around the world.
"When you attend such a festival, the most exciting part is interacting with people from different walks of cinema. They don’t treat you as an actor who’s done a certain amount of work. They treat you as an actor who’s there with a film," she says.
The experience has further strengthened Anupriya’s desire to explore international and Indo-global projects.
"I’ve always wanted to do Indo-Western and international projects. I want to work with people from outside India as well, to broaden my sensibilities as an actor and grow my craft," she says.
