India will be the official country of honor at the Cannes Film Market during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said Wednesday.

"India will be the official country of honor at the upcoming Marché Du Film, organized alongside the 75th edition of Cannes Film Festival, in France," Thakur said.

"It is the first time the Marché Du Film has an official country of honour, and this special focus will continue annually with different nations in the spotlight at future editions," added the Indian minister.

The 75th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 17 to 28.

According to the ministry of information and broadcasting, France and India are marking the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year, and "It is against this significant diplomatic backdrop that India has been chosen as the 'country of honor' at the Marché Du Film at the Cannes Film Festival."

Thakur further announced that India is also a country of honor at the Cannes Next, under which five new startups would be given an opportunity to pitch to the audio-visual industry.

(With input from Xinhua)