Sundance Winner ‘Cactus Pears’ Scores Grand Jury Prize at Inaugural SXSW London

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The Marathi film “Cactus Pears” (or “Sabar Bonda”) extended its success in festivals by claiming the Grand Jury Prize at the debut of the SXSW London event.

The announcement of the award was made by the jury responsible for the festival’s feature selections, which included Julia Jackman (a writer-director), Archie Madekwe (an actor), and Susan Wokoma (an actor-writer).

Under the direction of debutante filmmaker Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, the movie “Cactus Pears” unfolds. It delves into the lives of two individuals, Anand and Balya, as they grapple with societal expectations in a remote Indian village. The narrative revolves around Anand, a 30-something city resident who is compelled to stay in rural western India for a 10-day mourning period following his father’s death. During this time, he develops a unique bond with Balya, a local farmer who has chosen to remain unmarried against societal norms. As the mourning period comes to an end and Anand prepares to return to the city, he is faced with a significant choice regarding his relationship with Balya.

At the SXSW London closing event, jury member Wokoma remarked: “The chosen film is an awe-inspiring depiction of love, tenderness, and beauty woven amidst grief. It shows how these two individuals manage to cultivate hope and love despite their diverse religious beliefs, cultural backgrounds, families, and are uplifted by it in a heartwarming, touching manner.

Gemma Blasco’s film “The Fury” was commended by the jury, with Ángela Cervantes’ outstanding lead performance being a standout factor.

This year, “Cactus Pears” made its debut at Sundance, winning the Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema (Dramatic), becoming the first Marathi-language film to appear in this esteemed festival. Subsequently, it garnered the Audience Choice award and Special Jury Mention for Outstanding Performance by a Leading Duo at the Indian Film Festival LA, as well as the Audience Choice and Best Performance awards for its lead actor at the Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Kanawade is overjoyed that ‘Sabar Bonda’ triumphed in the initial London SXSW competition. This victory underscores even more that heartfelt human narratives transcend borders. The affection we received from both the judging panel and British viewers (we had screenings that sold out) fuels our determination to bring ‘Sabar Bonda’ to theaters, allowing audiences to enjoy the film on a grand scale soon.

Born and raised in a Mumbai slum, this filmmaker was nurtured by his chauffeur father and homemaker mother. He moved from a career in interior design to the world of filmmaking. His short films have been showcased worldwide, with “Cactus Pears” being developed at the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-2023. This project has been featured on platforms such as NFDC Film Bazaar, Venice Gap Financing Market, and Goes to Cannes. Kanawade is represented by Cinetic Media.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “This film is the collaborative effort of Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki from Canada, Kaushik Ray representing Taran Tantra Telefilms in the UK, Naren Chandavarkar from Moonweave Films in India, Sidharth Meer at Bridge PostWorks in India, and Hareesh Reddypalli of Dark Stories in India. Jim Sarbh of Wonderful Entertainment in India is our co-producer, while Rajesh Parwatkar from the U.K. takes on the role of associate producer. Ilann Girard serves as our executive producer.

Neeraj Churi, producer at Lotus Visual Productions, shared: “It’s deeply touching to witness our movie striking such a profound chord not only with viewers but also with jurors worldwide.

MPM Premium handles world sales, with Strand Releasing managing U.S. distribution.

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2025-06-08 19:46