This is an archive article published on April 11, 2024
Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light is first Indian film in 30 years to make it to Cannes’ competition section
Writer-director Payal Kapadia's debut feature All We Imagine as Light becomes first Indian film since Shaji N Karun's Swaham (1994) to compete for Palme d'Or award.
Writer-director Payal Kapadia‘s debut fiction feature ‘All We Imagine As Light’ will compete for the top honours during the upcoming edition of Cannes Film Festival, scheduled to be held from May 14 to 25. All We Imagine As Light, Kapadia’s feature film debut, will be the first Indian film to compete for Palme d’Or award after nearly three decades. The last Indian film to be make it to this coveted section was Shaji N Karun’s Swaham in 1994.
In the festival’s 77th edition, Kapadia’s feature will compete with the latest films by some of the biggest names in world cinema. Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, Sean Baker’s Anora, Yórgos Lánthimos’s Kinds Of Kindness, Paul Schrader’s Oh Canada, Magnus Von Horn’s The Girl With The Needle and Paolo Sorrentino’s Parthenope too have been picked for the festival’s competition section, among others. Greta Gerwig, director of Ladybird and Barbie, will preside over the jury.
British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s film ‘Santosh’ has been selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the festival. Quentin Dupieux’s The Second Act, which will open the festival on May 14
Kapadia, however, is not new to Cannes. Her poetic yet powerful documentary, ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’, was the winner of Golden Eye for best documentary during the 2021 edition of Cannes Film Festival. The film, which premiered under the Director’s Fortnight section, captures the unrest on a campus through letters written by a student to her lover, merging reality with a dream-like state. Kapadia’s other acclaimed works include shorts ‘Afternoon Clouds’ (2017), which was also selected for Cannes screening, and ‘And What Is the Summer Saying?’ (2018).
An Indo-French production, All We Imagine As Light follows the story of Prabha, a nurse, who receives an unexpected gift from her long estranged husband. This causes disruption in her life. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a private spot in the big city to be alone with her boyfriend. One day, the two nurses go on a road trip to a beach town where the mystical forest becomes a space for their dreams to manifest.
The Indian films which have been selected for Cannes’ competition section include Chetan Anand’s ‘Neecha Nagar’ (1946), V Shantaram’s ‘Amar Bhoopali’ (1952), Raj Kapoor’s ‘Awaara’ (1953), Satyajit Ray’s ‘Parash Pathar’ (1958), MS Sathyu’s ‘Garm Hava’ (1974) and Mrinal Sen’s Kharij (1983). Neecha Nagar is the only Indian film that was awarded a Palme d’Or.
Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism.
Expertise & Accolades
In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023.
Global Industry Leadership
Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies:
Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes.
National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema.
Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends.
Focus & Vision
Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More
