CANNES: Two international chapters, and five films by independent filmmakers, the endorsement of Andie Mcdowell, were announced at the international launch of Indian Independent Filmmakers Worldwide (IIFW) as part of the Cannes Film Festival.

The organisation has been formed with the express purpose of setting up a global network of independent filmmakers to provide the infrastructure to support and distribute the films, create a platform to push the cause and discuss cinema and issues affecting the indies.

Says its chairman Ketan Mehta, "IIFW is looking at raising a $100 million Indie fund, organising an indie festival, and also putting together an awards for indie film makers. We finally see a chain of cinemas being set up where indie films could be screened."

Andie McDowell

Mehta also announced the launch of a chapter each in the US and UK to be headed by Kruti Majumdar and Parminder Vir respectively. Says Vir, "We actually see this working as a powerful force. But it should extend to TV, to internet and new media also."

Kruti hopes the organisation will help give a voice to the non resident talent who are developing their own language of Indian cinema. "It should help the Asian new generation internationally to get noticed in the bigger platform of Indian cinema," she says. "That is it should be a two way process."

Some filmmakers announced their individual film launches. Among these included: Piyush Jha, Kaushik Roy, Anjalee Bhushan Nugyal, Deepa Sahi, Rajan Khosla, Aditya Bhattacharya. The surprise package of the evening was the presence of Andie Mcdowell, who said she loved Indian movies and was more than open to pushing the Indian indie film makers cause globally.

The evening's festivities were supported by the IIFW patron Sulena Narula who put in money as a sponsor. The party went on till late into the night with the 400 or so invitees rocking to Indian film music.