The Fonds Sud was established by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture (Centre Nationale de la Cinématographie) in 1984. The Fund provides grants for the making of feature, animation and documentary films for theatrical release in France and other countries with the aim of setting up a sustained collaboration with directors from the South. It nurtures new filmmakers and favours the production of films that are off the beaten track and display a strong cultural identity. In this sense, Fonds Sud is also a support mechanism for the preservation of cultural diversity.
A large part of the assistance granted to a project is earmarked for post-production in France. In exceptional cases, it may be given for the re-writing of a script or for the completion of a film. To the credit of Fonds Sud, many of the projects it has supported have won world-wide acclaim as well as major awards at festivals.
Over the last twenty years, 260 directors have received the Fund's support and more than 320 feature films from 69 countries have been co-financed. The list of beneficiaries is impressive: Arturo Ripstein and Youssef Chahine, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Yousry Nasrallah, Idrissa Ouedraogo, Sembene Ousmane, Rithy Panh, Raoul Peck, Walter Salles, Cheick Oumar Sissoko, Elia Suleiman, Juan Carlos Tabio, Moufida Tlatli, Pablo Trapero and Jia Zhangke, to name but a few.
At least 20 Indian filmmakers have been supported by Fonds Sud: Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Dev Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Fareeda Mehta, Murali Nair, Sudhir Mishra, Rajkumar Bhan and Jahar Kanungo among others.
Fonds Sud has achieved a mark of excellence, which is recognised by producers, distributors and festivals all over the world, triggered co-productions and pre-buys and built a network of industry partnerships that transcends national borders.
At least 20 Indian filmmakers have been supported by Fonds Sud: Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Dev Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Fareeda Mehta, Murali Nair, Sudhir Mishra, Rajkumar Bhan and Jahar Kanungo among others.
Fonds Sud has achieved a mark of excellence, which is recognised by producers, distributors and festivals all over the world, triggered co-productions and pre-buys and built a network of industry partnerships that transcends national borders.
Osian's-Cinefan is collaborating with Fonds Sud, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Govt. of France and the Embassy of France in India in putting together an exclusive selection of Asian and Arab films made with the Fund's backing.
Courageous in their choice of themes and delicate in their study of ruined worlds, these films reflect the intense and unarticulated feelings of their protagonists.