Gurvinder Singh’s Punjabi film Chauthi Koot (The Fourth Direction) and Neeraj Ghaywan’s debut Masaan (Fly Away Solo), have been selected to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2015.
Ghaywan who first went to Cannes in 2012 as part of the crew on Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur, is thrilled with the news.
“I follow this festival and the filmmakers whose films are shown here religiously. I have had dreams to make it here. But when you get there, it doesn’t feel that great actually because I have been consumed with so much work to complete the film in time for the festival. There has been no time to relish the news. Now it’s slowly sinking in.”
— Neeraj Ghaywan
Neeraj further adds, “Just to be selected itself helps get buyers and distributors to watch your film. It is the biggest film market. If you win, it’s a plus point.”
Ghyawan’s Masaan (Crematorium) follows the lives of four people who live on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. The cast includes Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Vineet Kumar, Vicky Kaushal and Pankaj Tripathi.
It’s a really tough competition. Films from all over the world come, so I am really overwhelmed by its selection. I play a small town girl in this film, which is based in Banaras. Neeraj was an AD on Gangs of Wasseypur and Anurag always felt he had something special and I am delighted that he has proved to the world that he indeed is special.
— Richa Chadda
Both Neeraj and Gurvinder’s films are eligible for a prize of 30,000 euros and will be in consideration for the Camera D’Or for their first feature, the Un Certain Regard award, and the Best Actor and Best Actress awards at Cannes.
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