Cannes film festival to make India 'guest country' in 2013

The Cannes film festival is to make India its "guest country" for the 2013 event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the nation's film industry. The home of Bollywood will be the third country to be honoured by festival organisers following Egypt in 2011 and Brazil last year. "The Festival de Cannes is delighted to celebrate one of the most important countries in the world of cinema," said Cannes general delegate Thierry Frémaux in a statement. "[It is] a country with a prestigious history and tradition, one whose current day and creative impulses are a perennial example of vitality." The news was announced on Friday at the Film Bazaar market in Goa, India, a four-day event organised by India's National Film Corporation which concluded on Saturday. The 66th annual Cannes film festival runs from 15 to 26 May 2013.