Cannes Film Festival Shifts Focus to Fashion: A Worrisome Trend for Indian Cinema

The iconic Cannes Film Festival, once a sacred space for cinema and artistic expression, is increasingly being overshadowed by fashion, according to industry experts like filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Filmmakers arriving in the French Riviera now find their agendas dominated more by couture than critiquing art.

Fashion Feeds Over Film Feasts

Vani Tripathi Tikoo, an actor and producer familiar with Cannes's evolution, laments the growing preoccupation with designer gowns over discussions of cinematic craft. 'The conversation has shifted from films to fashion feeds,' she asserts, suggesting that glamour now crowds out the essence of cinema for many Indian attendees.

Tripathi Tikoo points out that while glamour remains an integral part of Cannes's allure, it is dangerously replacing the artistic discourse. For instance, director panels, independent screenings, and co-production discussions are far less visible than past events focused on film festivals.

Actress Shabana Azmi, who has participated in numerous such events, evokes her own experiences from 1976, remembering a simpler time when they watched films with the greatest excitement. She

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's account of attending the festival is candid: he prioritized watching films over fashion, noting that appearances and luxury sponsors increasingly dominate discussions.

Director Anurag Kashyap echoes these sentiments, questioning whether Indian participants are more focused on marketing glamour than engaging with the cinematic arts at Cannes. He argues: 'Cannes should be a site for dissent, experimentation, and cultural dialogue, not just fashion.'