The French Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler, on Wednesday announced the opening of Bonjour India 2017-18, a four-month-long innovation, creativity and partnership festival. With the objective of enhancing and displaying the partnership between India and France, Bonjour India in its third edition will be spread across 33 Indian cities and comprise 300 events.
Mr. Ziegler said, “Bonjour India is much more than just a festival. It is an Indo-French movement in its entirety by showcasing all aspects of its society belonging to the field of art, music and cinema. There are new challenges emerging all across the world such as the smart city, environment, and both the countries are leading the way in many of these. These new challenges have actually opened new areas for collaboration and exchange, not only for political leaders or diplomats, but for all segments of our society: artists, companies and non-governmental organisations.”
Bonjour India is being organised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institut Francas and has three key words at the heart of it: innovation, creativity and partnership.
Mr. Ziegler said, “Creativity is at the very core of both the countries; and partnership because we are not approaching India as a market, but a place to think and create together.”
One of the main highlights of this edition, will be The Experience, which will display the relationship between India and France over the years in the form of a digital wall. It will be put up at the Gateway Of India from December 15 to 26. With a special emphasis on Mumbai and Maharashtra, over 30 events will be held in the next three months.
This edition will also focus on bringing young entrepreneurs and small scale companies to the forefront. The 24th entrepreneurship challenge will be held in Pune where students will have to brainstorm and come up with a concept of a start-up within 24 hours.
An online film festival 10 years-10 films will present one iconic French film of each of the past 10 years. The films can be viewed on the internet from November 25 to February 23.
