FTII alum Payal Kapadia's debut feature 'All We Imagine as Light' to compete at Cannes Film Festival

The spotlight is set to shine on the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) once again as alumna Payal Kapadia’s debut feature film, "All We Imagine as Light," gears up for its premiere at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival. With this feat, Kapadia has scripted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker in over 30 years since 1994 to feature in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

The festival organisers announced on Thursday that Kapadia's creation would compete in the festival's coveted competition section in a tweet.

Kapadia's previous triumph at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where she clinched the Golden Eye award for best documentary with "A Night of Knowing Nothing". Now, with "All We Imagine as Light," Kapadia ventures into the realm of fiction.

ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT – Payal KAPADIA#Competition #Cannes2024

— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) April 11, 2024

Set against the bustling backdrop of Mumbai, "All We Imagine as Light" weaves a tale of longing, liberation, and the quest for identity. The film follows the journey of Prabha and Anu, two nurses from Kerala whose lives intersect in unexpected ways at a nursing home in the city. As Prabha grapples with the sudden arrival of a gift from her estranged spouse, Anu seeks solace in a clandestine romance with her boyfriend. Their decision to escape to a coastal town becomes a catalyst for self-discovery, propelling them towards a newfound sense of freedom amidst the constraints of their daily lives.

"All We Imagine as Light" finds itself in illustrious company at Cannes, competing alongside a diverse array of international talents. Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi's "The Apprentice," Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis," and Yorgos Lanthimos's "Kind of Kindness" are among the formidable contenders vying for top honours.

In addition to Kapadia's feature, the Cannes Film Festival will also showcase Sandhya Suri’s UK-European co-production "Santosh," featuring Shahana Goswami and Sanjay Bishnoi, which has been selected at the festival in the UN Certain Regard section.