Odisha Filmmaker In Sambalpuri Jacket Makes Heads Turn At Cannes

Bhubaneswar: Odisha-born film producer Jitendra Mishra was spotted in a green traditional hand-woven Sambalpuri jacket at the ongoing 72nd Cannes Film Festival in France.

He was representing the Smile International film festival for children and youth, Smile Foundation.

He took to Twitter and posted moments from Cannes, where he was a part of many important panel and forums during the last seven days.

Many international celebrities and leaders from the industry appreciated this attempt at bringing alive the tradition of Odisha at Cannes.

Born in Titlagarh, his last production ‘The Last Color’ by celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna had a special screening at the festival in it’s Marche du Films section on May 15.

Movies by two other Odia filmmakers will also be screened at the prestigious festival being held from My 14 to 25. They are Sisir Kumar Sahu’s short film Swahaa and Antardhwani produced by Rajesh Kumar Mohanty.

A third movie with an Odisha connect at Cannes is Jungle Cry, which follows the lives of 12 underprivileged children from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in Odisha and their triumphant journey to the International Junior Rugby Tournament held in England in 2007.