‘Cannes 2024: Indian director Payal Kapadia’s film makes history by being selected for competition’

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s film, “All We Imagine As Light,” has made history by being selected for the prestigious Competition section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This marks the first time in 30 years that an Indian film has qualified for this highly competitive category.

Known for her acclaimed documentary “A Night of Knowing Nothing,” which won the Golden Eye award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, Kapadia continues to make waves in the international film scene. Her previous work, “Afternoon Clouds,” was also showcased at Cannes in the Short Film category.

The official Cannes Film Festival page recently announced the lineup of films for the Competition section, including Kapadia’s “ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT.” The film will be presented alongside 19 other highly anticipated titles, such as “Kinds of Kindness” by Yorgos Lanthimos and “Megalopolis” by Francis Ford Coppola.

Additionally, the Un Certain Regard section will feature “Santosh” by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, starring actress Shahana Goswami. This year’s festival will open with Quentin Dupieux’s “The Second Act.”

The last Indian film to compete for the Palme d’Or award was “Swaham” by director Shaji N Karun in 1994. Despite the competition, Indian cinema has a rich history at Cannes, with films like “Garm Hava” by MS Sathyu and “Parash Pathar” by Satyajit Ray being selected in previous years.

The Cannes Film Festival is set to take place from May 14 to May 25, showcasing a diverse range of international talent and storytelling. Kapadia’s inclusion in the Competition section solidifies her position as a trailblazer in Indian cinema on the global stage.