Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light has been shortlisted by France as a contender for the Oscars in the international feature category. Despite its global success, the film ironically remains unreleased in India, leaving its potential submission by the country uncertain.
The film, featuring an Indian cast and crew, made history this year by being the first Indian film in three decades to compete at Cannes’ main competition, where it won the prestigious Grand Prix. However, the film has theatrical release dates in the US on 15th November; in France on 2nd October and in the UK on 29th November, but the film still lacks an official release date in India.
Produced by French company Petit Chaos, in collaboration with Indian co-producers Chalk & Cheese Films and Another Birth, the film explores the lives of three women in Mumbai. With dialogue in Hindi, Marathi, and Malayalam, it features actor Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon.
Director Payal Kapadia emphasized the film’s focus on female friendship. At the time of accepting the Grand Prix award at Cannes, Kapadia said, “This film is about friendship, about three very different women. Oftentimes, women are pitted against each other… But for me, friendship is a very important relationship because it can lead to greater solidarity, inclusivity, and empathy.”
While the film has secured distributors in major markets worldwide, its Indian release was only recently acquired by Spirit Media, founded by Baahubali star Rana Daggubati. Daggubati shared his excitement about the acquisition, said, “After garnering love from audiences at festivals abroad, we are thrilled to bring Payal’s All We Imagine as Light to Indian viewers.”
However, the film’s release in India hinges on certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). As of now, there is no official listing for the film on the CBFC’s website, raising concerns about whether it will meet the eligibility deadline for India’s Oscars submission. According to the Film Federation of India’s guidelines, the movie must have a theatrical run of at least seven days before 30th September, 2024, to be considered for submission.
Meanwhile, Kiran Rao directed Laapataa Ladies has been announced as an official entry for 2025 Oscars from India. Despite the delay, the Indian co-producers remain hopeful. Zico Maitra of Chalk & Cheese Films told Variety, “While the film’s themes are global, this is a story about Mumbai and the lives of women in the city and in India. It would be a great honor to represent our home country at the Academy Awards.”
In France, All We Imagine as Light faces stiff competition from films like Emilia Perez, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Misericordia, all of which also premiered at Cannes.
Watch All We Imagine as Light trailer here:
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