Cannes 2024: Payal Kapadia's ‘All We Imagine As Light’ gets 8-minute standing ovation

Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light,’ the first Indian film in the Cannes competition in 30 years, made a significant impact at its world premiere on May 23. The film left international audiences impressed and garnered considerable attention at the festival.

The film, which makes Payal Kapadia a contender for the prestigious Palme d'Or, has scripted history at the festival. It received a warm eight-minute standing ovation following its debut, one of the longest of this edition of the film festival.

According to Deadline, Payal is the first female Indian filmmaker to have a movie in the Cannes competition, and it is also the first Indian production in competition in three decades.

Payal expressed her pride in making history at the film festival, showcasing to the world that Indian cinema encompasses much more than just Bollywood.

‘India is a country that makes a lot of good films. Not just Bollywood but every state has its industry and there are absolutely brilliant filmmakers. I hope that after this we won’t have to wait another 30 years,’ Payal told Deadline.

She added, ‘I’m excited and really we’re just happy that our film got selected. We didn’t expect it and it’s an honour because there are so many filmmakers in the section that I really admire.’

Before heading to the premiere, the cast and crew of the film were all smiles on the red carpet. They looked ecstatic on the steps of the Palais, even dancing their way up to the theatre. The cast struck fun poses and caught everyone's attention with their joyful expressions.

The film features Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon.

More about ‘All We Imagine As Light’

The Indo-French production follows the life of a nurse named Prabha (played by Kani Kusruti), who receives an unexpected gift from her long-estranged husband. Meanwhile, her younger friend and roommate, Anu (played by Divya Prabha), is searching for a quiet spot with her lover. The two women decide to go on a road trip to a beach town, where they find space for their dreams and desires to flow.

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