Filmmaker Payal Kapadia has made history as the first Indian female director to receive a Golden Globe nomination, with her powerful feature film ‘All We Imagine As Light’ earning nods for Best Director and Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.
Kapadia has already garnered international acclaim, with her latest achievement following her remarkable success at the Cannes Film Festival, where the film won the Grand Prix earlier this year. A Hindi-Malayalam language masterpiece, ‘All We Imagine As Light’ tells the poignant stories of three underrepresented women in Mumbai, capturing their battles with adversity, solitude, and human connection. Set in the heart of a city where dreams often collide with reality, the film explores resilience and empathy through a poetic and visually striking lens.
Reacting to the nomination, Kapadia shared: “This recognition is truly humbling. I am grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for this honour, and I dedicate it to the incredible team who made this film possible.”
Released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on November 29, the film has been widely praised for its nuanced storytelling and bold visual style, solidifying Kapadia’s reputation as one of India’s most exciting filmmakers.
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The nominations also highlight a milestone for Indian cinema on the global stage, reflecting the increasing recognition of diverse stories and voices in international filmmaking.
The news came soon after the BFI’s international film magazine, ‘Sight and Sound’ announced the results of their Best Films of the Year poll 2024 – ‘All We Imagine As Light’ took the coveted top spot in the poll by around 100 of the world’s top film critics.
The 2024 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner, starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam, was the first Indian film to be selected in Official Competition at Cannes in three decades and is currently on release in UK and Irish cinemas via BFI Distribution.
Kapadia reflected: “When I was at film school, at the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), we used to get a copy of ‘Sight and Sound’. We were all excited when the new edition came out and would clamour to read it.
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“The magazine and its writers hold a special place in every cinephile’s heart, so to have my film at No. 1 in the Best Films of the Year Poll for 2024 is very special to me.”
‘All We Imagine As Light’ has been on a spectacular journey since it premiered at Cannes in May, where Kapadia and her cast saw the film receive an eight-minute standing ovation – worldwide critical acclaim, five-star reviews and a Golden Globe nomination was to follow.
