- Friday, January 10, 2025
The film has earned nominations at the Critics Choice Awards and is featured on the longlist for the BAFTAs, fueling hopes of recognition at the 2025 Oscars
By: India Weekly
PAYAL KAPADIA’S “All We Imagine As Light” continues its global success story with a win at the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) awards, where it was named Best International Film.
This recognition follows the film’s historic Grand Prix win at Cannes and a growing list of accolades, including a spot on Sight and Sound’s list of 50 best movies of the year.
Kapadia, while accepting the award, reflected on the impact of the film’s critical reception in the US and beyond.
“People read what you write in India as well, so that’s really great for us,” she said, highlighting the role of international critics in broadening the film’s audience.
The filmmaker shared her experience of entering the US film circuit, starting with the Telluride Film Festival in September 2024.
She described the festival as a welcoming introduction to the industry. “I didn’t know what to expect and was a bit terrified at what the film industry here would be. But I’ve met so many incredible people here in the US, and felt the generosity of spirit from the film community,” Kapadia said.
The movie, produced by Petit Chaos, Chalk & Cheese, and Another Birth, tells the story of two Malayali nurses and their friend navigating love and loss in bustling Mumbai.
It has earned nominations at the Critics Choice Awards and is featured on the longlist for the BAFTAs, fueling hopes of further recognition at the 2025 Oscars.
Kapadia also reflected on the personal highlights of the journey, including attending the Golden Globes, where the film was nominated in two categories.
“We were at the Golden Globes a few days ago, and Jodie Foster had seen our movie twice. I would never in a million years have dreamt of this,” she said, expressing gratitude to her distributors for facilitating such moments.
Though it missed out on the Golden Globe wins, “All We Imagine As Light” continues to resonate globally, with its Indian release on November 22 receiving positive reviews. It is distributed in the US by Janus Films and Sideshow and in India by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media.
At the same NYFCC awards, other winners included The Brutalist for Best Picture and Adrien Brody for Best Actor. Kapadia’s win underscores the growing visibility of Indian cinema on the international stage.
