Hindi
French participation at IFFI
MUMBAI: More than 15 long features and co-productions, representing the diversity of French cinema, will be showcased at the IFFI this year.
“Among the countries where cinema has played a role in cultural life, France and India occupy indeed a very special place. From the very inception of this new form of art, more than a century ago, both countries felt a strong inclination for what was to be commonly known as the Seventh art,” says Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador of France in India.
Among them, the French Oscar entry ‘‘Orchestra Seats” (“Fauteuils d‘orchestre”), the box-office hit “TAXI 4” and three of the most awaited films of this year : “99 francs” (a film adaptation of a best-seller book), “The second wind” (a remake of one of finest film in French cinema history) and the mindblowing “Intimate ennemy” (a first of its kind look at the Algerian struggle for independence), whose directors will do us the honour to participate to IFFI and interact with the Indian audience and media during this celebration of cinema.
The 6 films “Living together” collection prepared by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs are modern-day fables about French society and its divides which convey the vital need to learn how to get to know and understand each other, while the Film heritage section, co-organised by the Thomson Foundation, will be the occasion to see among the masterpieces of the history of World Cinema.
Veteran and respected filmaker and indophile Alain Corneau will be leading the French delegation comprising Florent-Emilio Siri, Jan Kounen, and talented young actress Fanny Valette as well as the Thomson Foundation team, the European Club of Producers, Samira Zaibat of the International critic‘s week in Cannes, and Fabien Westerhoff participating in the NFDC organised Film Bazaar section.
Retrospective “Living Together” : 6 films
1) Samia by Philippe Faucon
2) When you come down from Heaven (Quand tu descendras du cie) by Eric Guirard
3) What’s going on (Wesh, Wesh, qu‘est ce qui se passe ?) by Rabah Ameur-Za?meche
4) My neighbours (Voisins, voisines) by Malik Chibane
5) Zim & Co by Pierre Jolivet
6) Forgetting Cheyenne (Oublier Cheyenne) by Valérie Minetto
World Cinema :
1) The Second Wind (Le 2?me souffle) by Alain Corneau (2007)
2) The Intimate Enemy (L’ennemi intime) by Florent Emilio Siri (2007)
3) 99 Francs by Jan Kounen (2007)
4) Change of address (Changement d’adresse) by Emmanuel Mouret (2006)
5) TAXI 4 by Gérard Krawczyk (2007)
6) Orchestra Seats (Les Fauteuils d’orchestre) by Dani?le Thomson (2006)
7) The Songs of Love (Les Chansons d‘amour) by Christophe Honoré (2007)
8) The Page turner (La Tourneuse de pages) by Denis Dercourt (2005)
9) The Other (L’Autre) by Ariel Rotter (co-production / 2007)
10) Goodbye Bafana by Bille August (co-production / 2007)
Hindi
Edstead unveils ambitious H1 2026 content slate
New originals feature Adarsh Gourav in Northeast docu-series, Aditi Kotak in Next Class, and Adil Hussain in Stories of India.
MUMBAI: Edstead just dropped a content menu so rich it could make even the pickiest viewer say “encore” because when storytelling meets substance, the binge becomes inevitable. The fast-rising Mumbai-based studio, founded by Shekhar Bhattacharjee, today revealed its H1 2026 slate, a bold expansion of premium non-fiction that blends cultural depth, innovation, and legacy into cinematic factual narratives. The lineup cements Edstead’s niche at the crossroads of authenticity and global appeal, delivering research-driven stories that stay rooted in the Indian experience while aiming for wider resonance.
Headlining the fresh originals:
- An untitled docu-series starring Bollywood actor Adarsh Gourav, who journeys through Northeast India to spotlight living cultural traditions, indigenous voices, music, oral histories, and everyday resilience. Presented by Air India Express, with Dentsu Sports and Entertainment as integration partner.
- Next Class, an eight-episode impact series fronted by entrepreneur and former Miss India Aditi Kotak, decoding career pathways, emerging fields, and real-world outcomes through leading institutions and forward-thinking disciplines.
- Stories of India with Adil Hussain, India’s first weekly OTT series dedicated to social impact, profiling organisations driving meaningful change and connecting purpose with tangible results.
- Toast to Tomorrow, exploring how leading alcohol brands craft immersive, culture-led experiences that celebrate regional identities and redefine legacy.
- No Cap Abroad – UAE Edition, following Indian students through their first week at UAE colleges—navigating homesickness, culture shock, and independence in a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.
Edstead is also returning with expanded seasons of breakout hits, The Future School (progressive Indian education), Molecules of Hope (healthcare innovation), and Great Indian Residential Schools.
Edstead founder Shekhar Bhattacharjee said, “At Edstead, we are focused on building narratives that carry depth, context, and long-term relevance. Every project begins with research and a clear purpose… Our ambition is to create globally competitive factual content from India that remains culturally grounded while shaping conversations, inspiring trust, and contributing to the growing culture economy.”
From education and healthcare to enterprise and cultural revival, the slate reflects Edstead’s full-stack approach developing original IPs and guiding them through a robust distribution network spanning digital, OTT, and broadcast. In a content world chasing quick trends, Edstead is quietly betting on stories built to last, ones that don’t just entertain, but linger long after the credits roll.
