MUMBAI: The Cannes film festival has announced that it will invite a large delegation from the Indian Film industry next year to Cannes to celebrate hundred years of Indian Cinema. With this move, India becomes the third ‘Guest Country‘ at Cannes film festival following Egypt in 2011 and Brazil in 2012.

"Cannes belongs to each and every one of us who contribute towards creating it step by step. We want the festival to be open to new ideas and diversity can only enrich it. I have been attending IFFI for past 4-5 years and it gives me immense pleasure to invite India as the guest country.

"The Festival de Cannes is delighted to celebrate one of the most important countries in the world of cinema, a country with a prestigious history and tradition, one whose current day and creative impulses are a perennial example of vitality," averred Director of Film Department Cannes Christian Juene.

Juene is here to attend the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI)and NFDC Film Bazaar.

The Festival de Cannes will be held from 15 to 26 May, 2013.