As a cinephile who has been following the global film scene for years, I find myself deeply intrigued by the unique circumstances surrounding Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light.” The fact that this film could potentially represent not one but two countries at the Oscars is nothing short of extraordinary.
Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix-winning film, “All We Imagine as Light,” might have the advantage of representing both France and India in the prestigious International Feature Film category at the Oscars.
This week, the movie “All We Imagine as Light” caused a stir when it was included in the final four nominees selected by France’s Academy Awards committee. It shared this honor with Jacques Audiard’s film “Emilia Perez,” an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel retold as “The Count of Monte Cristo,” an epic adventure, and Alain Guiraudie’s movie “Misericordia.
Following this announcement, EbMaster has verified that Kapadia’s movie, obtained for Indian distribution by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, is set to hit theaters in the nation in a timely manner, making it eligible to represent India as its submission.
This captivating movie was jointly brought to life by Thomas Hakim and Julian Graff from their French production house Petit Chaos, in a collaborative effort with Chalk & Cheese Films and Another Birth based in India, alongside BALDR Film of the Netherlands, Les Films Fauves from Luxembourg, Pulpa Films in Italy, and Arte France Cinéma within the heart of France.
Worldwide cinema releases are imminent for “All We Imagine as Light,” with distribution deals finalized in the U.S., where it’s scheduled to premiere this fall, as well as France and several other significant territories. As a result, this Indian independent film is poised to be one of the most widely distributed Indian indies ever made.
In light of its global success, particularly at Cannes where it was the first Indian film to compete in 30 years, the Indian producers have submitted their movie, titled “All We Imagine as Light,” for consideration in India’s selection process. Zico Maitra, co-producer from India’s Chalk & Cheese Films, expressed his gratitude to the French selection committee for recognizing their film as a contender for best international feature. He shared this with EbMaster.
In her first venture as a director, Kapadia pens and guides the movie that unfolds the lives of two Mumbai residents – Prabha, a tormented nurse who unexpectedly receives a present from her long-lost spouse, and Anu, her youthful roommate yearning for privacy with her lover. A journey to a coastal town offers them the opportunity to fulfill their secret yearnings. The film features Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon in pivotal roles.
Although the movie’s messages are universal, it is a tale specifically set in Mumbai and the lives of women in that city and beyond India. It would be an immense privilege to have our home nation recognized at the Academy Awards. We believe it could bring tremendous pride to India, much like we felt when the film was awarded the Grand Prix at Cannes,” Maitra stated.
In India, another major contender is the film “Aattam” by Anand Ekarshi, which bagged three awards at the National Film Awards of India.
The contest to represent France in the competition will be intense. All four films under consideration had their world debut at the Cannes Film Festival. “Emilia Perez,” a film that won two significant awards, the Jury Prize and an acting award for its female cast ensemble, which includes Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, and Adriana Paz, was screened at Cannes Premiere. Additionally, “Misericordia,” a darkly comedic and thought-provoking film directed by Albert Serra, was showcased at Cannes Premiere and more recently at Telluride and Toronto. Lastly, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” a three-hour long film directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, premiered out of competition at Cannes.
Should “All We Imagine as Light” be selected as France’s entry, it’s essential to meet a key condition when submitting to APMAS: The country submitting the film must verify that the creative control was primarily held by citizens or residents of the submitting country, as outlined by the Academy.
Julian Graff from Petit Chaos mentioned to EbMaster that their company began creating “All We Envision as Light” alongside Kapadia in 2019, not long after Hakim had a chance encounter with her at the Berlinale film festival. It was during this event where Hakim saw her short film titled “And What Is the Summer Saying.
After halting the project due to the pandemic, Kapadia moved on to create her debut feature documentary titled “A Night of Knowing Nothing,” which was showcased at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight in 2021. Once the pandemic subsided, Petit Chaos managed to secure funding for “All We Imagine as Light” and collaborated with Kapadia on its creative development. During this time, Kapadia recruited Indian co-producers she was familiar with for the project. These producers played a significant role during filming in India, particularly in Mumbai, as mentioned by Graff.
Concerning the possibility of a movie chosen by two different countries for the Oscars, Graff stated that “All We Imagine as Light” was considered an underdog among the French Oscar committee’s shortlisted films due to fierce competition, and he proposed that everyone involved in “All We Imagine as Light” would be delighted if India selected it as their official entry.
Graff stated, “We’re proceeding with care since we’re unsure if ‘All We Imagine as Light’ truly embodies India. When you consider past films chosen there, it appears they didn’t always align with audience expectations.” He also expressed his eagerness to observe how the film will be received by both France and India’s Academy Award committees.
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2024-09-13 20:47