All We Imagine as Light makes history by winning Grand Prix at Cannes: All you need to know about Payal Kapadia’s film

FTII alum Payal Kapadia’s intense drama film, All We Imagine as Light, has created history by becoming the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Grand Prix is the second most prestigious award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, after the Palme d’Or, which was won by Sean Baker for Anora. According to reports, the Indian film’s screening received an eight-minute-long standing ovation from the audience.

All We Imagine as Light creates history

All We Imagine as Light marked the feature debut of director Payal Kapadia and created history by competing in the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival this year. This is also the first feature film by an Indian woman to have competed for the prestigious Palme d’Or award. The last Indian film to have competed for the award was Murali Nair’s Marana Simhasanam in 1999.

All We Imagine as Light plot

All We Imagine as Light is a Malayalam-Hindi film based on the life of a nurse named Prabha who lives with her roommate, Anu. While Prabha’s life turns upside down after receiving a gift from her husband from Germany, Anu is head over heels in love with her boyfriend and tries to find a spot for her budding romance.

All We Imagine as Light cast

Helmed by Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light stars Chhaya Kadam, Divya Prabha and Kani Kusruti. An Indo-French co-production, the film is produced by Petit Chaos from France and Chalk and Cheese Films from India.

Payal Kapadia’s speech

In her speech, Payal said, “I'm very nervous, so I wrote something down. Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for having our film here. Please don't wait 30 years to have another Indian film. This film is about friendship, about three very different women. Oftentimes, women are pitted against each other. This is the way our society is designed, and it is really unfortunate. But for me, friendship is a very important relationship because it can lead to greater solidarity, inclusivity and empathy.”

Payal’s documentary film, A Night of Knowing Nothing, had also premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won the Oeil d'or (Golden Eye) award.