Cannes [France], May 26 (ANI): Filmmaker Payal Kapadia made history at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival as her drama, “All We Imagine as Light,” clinched the prestigious Grand Prix award.
The film, marking Kapadia’s directorial debut, secured its place in cinematic lore as the first Indian film in three decades and the first ever by an Indian women director to grace the festival’s main competition.
A post on Instagram by the Festival de Cannes read, “Le Grand Prix est attribue a ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT de PAYAL KAPADIA. The Jury Prize goes to ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT by PAYAL KAPADIA.#Cannes2024 #Palmares #Awards #GrandPrix
Receiving thunderous applause, the film’s screening garnered an eight-minute standing ovation.
Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, ‘All We Imagine as Light’ is the story of Prabha, a nurse, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a mysterious gift from her estranged husband. Accompanied by her roommate Anu, the duo takes on a journey to a coastal town, where the mystical forest serves as a sanctuary for their dreams. ‘All We Imagine as Light’ stands as an Indo-French collaboration, co-produced by Petit Chaos from France and Chalk and Cheese Films from India.
‘All We Imagine as Light’ marks the feature film debut of Payal Kapadia. Before this, she won the Golden Eye award at Cannes for her documentary ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing.’
The Cannes Film Festival started on May 14. Greta Gerwig was the jury president this year. Other members included Lily Gladstone, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Eva Green, Ebru Ceylan, Juan Antonio Bayona, Nadine Labaki, and Omar Sy. (ANI)
PM Modi congratulates Payal Kapadia on Cannes win
New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated filmmaker Payal Kapadia after her film ‘All We Imagine As Light’ won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.
Taking to his official handle X, he praised her for the historical win at the prestigious film festival. PM Modi wrote, “India is proud of Payal Kapadia for her historic feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her work ‘All We Imagine as Light’. An alumnus of FTII, her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in India. This prestigious accolade not only honours her exceptional skills but also inspires a new generation of Indian filmmakers.”
Filmmaker Payal Kapadia made history on May 25, bagging the Grand Prix Award for the film ‘All We Imagine As Light’.
‘All We Imagine As Light’ premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in its much-feted ‘competition section’ on May 23. It was the first Indian film to feature in the festival’s main segment in 30 years. The last Indian movie to make it to the competition section was Shaji N Karun’s Swaham in 1994.
The update has left every Indian elated. Members of the Indian film industry have been beaming with joy ever since they learned about Payal winning the Grand Prix Award.
Actor-director Farhan Akhtar took to Instagram and wrote, “Heartiest congratulations #PayalKapadia and team #allweimagineaslight .. first Indian film to win the Cannes Grand Prix.”
Kiara Advani also extended heartfelt greetings to the team of ‘All We Imagine As Light’. “Congratulationsss,” she wrote.
Aditi Rao Hydari also gave a shout out to ‘All We Imagine As Light’ film.
“At a very perplexing time in history where only the noise from my incredible country seems to get amplified, Here is an independent film by a first time director that wins the Grand Prix honour at @festivaldecannes. Please take a moment and let us all stand and applaud this monumental achievement. This is the crowning glory of the fight for good Cinema in India. It may happen again, but not without the impact of #Payalkapadia’s spectacular achievement. So proud, so grateful. My love and congratulations to the entire team! India in all Her glory, and on Her own terms… What a moment,” Aditi wrote on Instagram.
‘All We Imagine As Light’ follows the lives of two nurses from Kerala — Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divyaprabha) – colleagues at a Mumbai hospital and roommates. When Prabha receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, her regular life is disrupted. In the space-crunched city, her younger roommate Anu struggles to find a spot to be intimate with her boyfriend. When they take a trip to a coastal town, their lives undergo a change. (ANI)
