Cannes: While the much-awaited Cannes Film Festival 2024 kicks off with celebrated stars, filmmakers and influencers from across the globe yesterday, an internationally acclaimed filmmaker from Odisha, Jitendra Mishra and entrepreneur and non-resident Odia, Partha Panda made a mark at the one-of-a-kindinternational event by appearing in Sambalpuri attire.
They are currently visiting the festival for their upcoming feature film project from Odisha. Cannes Red Carpet is considered to be one of the most high-status and glamorous stages the whole world looks up to and this is a rare opportunity to showcase the beauty of Odisha’s Sambalpuri handloom to the world. Audiences from across the world appreciated the vibrant colour, distinct design and texture of the silk.
Born in Titilagarh, Odisha, Jitendra Mishra who has been a regular participant in the Cannes Film Festival promoting Sambalpuri handloom for over a decade now, has been trying to promote the art, culture and cinema from Odisha and India at international forums like this. He is one of the few Indian film producers and promoters who have been able to create a benchmark in ‘Alternative methods of Film Production, Distribution and Promotion’ at the international level. Committed towards meaningful cinema, Jitendra has already been associated with the production, distribution and promotion of more than 110 films in different categories and various capacities altogether. Many of them have got worldwide acclamation and recognition. I am Kalam, The Last Color, Buried Seeds, Desires of the Heart and Human Oak are a few recent films among others.  Awarded with several national and international accolades, Jitendra has been the festival director of the unique film festival and forum SIFFCY an initiative of India’s leading development organization Smile Foundation. Currently, Jitendra is the Goodwill Ambassador of one of the world’s largest and oldest global networks of media professionals CIFEJ which was formed under the auspices of UNESCO in 1955, he was elected president of the body in 2020. Jitendra has been a member of the Cannes Producers Network and has also been invited as a Jury to more than 50 different international film festivals and forums.
Partha Panda, a British citizen having his roots in Jagatsinghpur, Odisha has been promoting art, culture and cinema from India through various endeavours. His production house Glocal Films UK Limited has been producing and distributing audio-visual content from various genres.
