Payal Kapadia poses during a photocall after winning the Grand Prix for the film ‘All We Imagine As Light’ during the closing ceremony of the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Photo Credit: Loic Venance
Payal Kapadia We all imagine ourselves as light Last night, Indian film made history by winning the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film, which tells the story of two Kerala nurses living life in contemporary Mumbai, is the first Indian film to participate in the main competition at Cannes in three decades and stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam in the lead roles.
Leading the jury barbie Directors Greta Gerwig, industry veterans Lily Gladstone, Hirokazu Koreeda, Eva Green, Omar Sy and Ebru Celan, while American director Sean Baker’s Anora Winning the top prize, the Palme d’Or, Kapadia’s runner-up Grand Prix win is a memorable moment for Indian cinema, reminiscent of Chetan Anand’s achievement. low townwhich won the Palme d’Or (then known as the Grand Prix) in 1946.
Kapadia, an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), first attracted international attention with his documentary film. A night of knowing nothingWhich premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won the Oeil d’Or (Golden Eye) award. Set against the backdrop of the FTII student protests, the documentary was deeply personal to Kapadia.
In 2015, Kapadia was at the forefront of a significant protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of FTII. Leading a historic 139-day protest, Kapadia and her colleagues opposed Chauhan’s appointment due to his alleged lack of qualifications. The protest led to severe consequences for Kapadia, including the cancellation of her scholarship and an FIR being filed against her.
Despite these challenges, Kapadia’s talent shines through. Her 13-minute short film, Afternoon cloudswas selected for the Competition category at the 70th Cannes International Festival in 2017. This recognition prompted the FTII to reverse its punitive actions, and increased support for his trip to Cannes.
Reflecting on her win at Cannes 2024, Kapadia hoped to see more Indian films on international platforms. “Please don’t wait another 30 years for Indian film,” she urged during her acceptance speech.
The Conquest of the We all imagine ourselves as light The film’s performance at Cannes will give a huge boost to its chances at the Oscars 2025. This historic win establishes it as a leading candidate for India’s submission in the Best International Feature Film category. The win at the Grand Prix has given it the visibility it needs to make a strong case for consideration.
Cannes has long been considered an important precursor to the Oscars, often setting the stage for films that go on to achieve Academy Award glory. The festival’s recognition can greatly influence the trajectory of a film’s journey to the Oscars, boosting its prestige among voters and critics around the world.
Kapadia has already caught the attention of the international film community. We all imagine ourselves as light The film will enter the Oscar race with a strong lead, riding on the momentum gained from its success at Cannes, and represents a major push for Indian cinema on the global stage.
