Actress Nandita Das Thursday inaugurated the "India Pavilion", which showcases the works of major national filmmakers, at the Cannes International Film Festival.

"The Indian Pavilion is a great initiative, facilitating Indian producers and directors to showcase their work at this global platform and interact with the international film fraternity," said Das in a statement issued here.

The pavilion is organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with support from the information and broadcasting ministry.

Censor board chairperson and yesteryear actress Sharmila Tagore released the first anniversary issue of "Film India Worldwide", the CII's quarterly magazine on Indian Cinema, on the occasion.

The Indian pavilion at Cannes is hosting many of the country's leading production studios and showcasing a wide range of films that demonstrate the growing appeal of Indian movies.

Being screened at Cannes for the first time are "The Rising" from Kaleidoscope Entertainment, the English version of "Kisna - Beyond Love" from Mukta Arts, Ascho Media's "Ho Sakta Hai" and "Chiken Tikka Masala" from Sunstone Entertainment, among others.

Also participating are production houses Mashreq Communications, Planman Life, Sunstone Entertainment and Sahara Motion Pictures.

"This year marks an extraordinary transition for Indian cinema. With a hat-trick of Nandita Das' presence on the jury, the quality and range of our films on show and the selection of `Pather Panchali' for a Cannes classics screening, the Indian movie industry has truly come of age," said Afzal Amanullah, joint secretary (films) in the ministry of information and broadcasting.

India's contribution to world cinema has been honoured this year with the selection of Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" as the opening film in the festival's classic section.