Discover
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Who are Payal Kapadia and Anasuya Sengupta?
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How many Indian movies have won at the Cannes Festival till now?
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How did Anand Mahindra & PM Modi laud the women for big win?
Payal Kapadia and Anasuya Sengupta are all over social media right now. Payal made history as the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival for her movie “All We Imagine as Light.”
Anasuya also stole the spotlight, winning the Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Actress for her role in “The Shameless.”
The Cannes Film Festival 2024 has truly changed the game for Indian cinema. This year, it’s not just about who wore what or the influencers promoting brands on the red carpet. Instead, we’re all celebrating the pure magic of cinema.
This year, women filmmakers, storytellers, and actresses took the lead as South Asian cinema made a significant impact at the 77th edition of Cannes.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Anand Mahindra, the Chairperson of Mahindra and Mahindra, joined in to congratulate these amazing women on their incredible achievements. It’s a proud moment for Indian cinema!
Also Read: Nancy Tyagi: How She Made It To The Cannes Film Festival?
The Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival is an annual film festival which takes place in Cannes, France. It showcases new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world.
This Film Festival is now the world’s most prestigious film event and one of the most talked-about cultural gatherings. It serves as a major platform for film-producing countries. Although the first official festival took place in 1946, the idea for the event actually started eight years earlier.
Who is Payal Kapadia?
Payal Kapadia is a renowned filmmaker, who created history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the prestigious ‘Grand Prix’ award at the Cannes Film Festival. Moreover, this film marked the feature directorial debut of Kapadia, an alumna of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII).
She ended a 30-year dry spell at Cannes with her film, “All We Imagine As Light,” becoming the only Indian entry to compete for the Palme d’Or and earning an 8-minute-long standing ovation. Her movie, screened on the night of May 23, 2024, is the first Indian film in 30 years and the first movie by an Indian female director to be showcased in the main competition.
India is proud of Payal Kapadia for her historic feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her work ‘All We Imagine as Light’. An alumnus of FTII, her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in… pic.twitter.com/aMJbsbmNoE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2024
“I’m very nervous, so I wrote something down. Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for having our film here. Please don’t wait 30 years to have another Indian film. This film is about friendship, about three very different women. Women are often pitted against each other. This is how our society is designed, and it is really unfortunate. But for me, friendship is a very important relationship because it can lead to greater solidarity, inclusivity and empathy,” Kapadia said after winning the award.
Furthermore, the last Indian movie selected for the main competition was Shaji N Karun’s 1994 movie Swaham.
Who is Anasuya Sengupta?
Kolkata’s Anasuya Sengupta has also made history by winning the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. The honour has come in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section for Sengupta’s role in Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov’s ‘The Shameless’.
The ‘Un Certain Regard’ section runs parallel to the main competition and seeks to bring to the fore new trends, paths, and countries making cinema. Anasuya is a successful art director and has worked in feature films like Sanjeev Sharma’s ‘Saat Uchakkey’ and Bengali director Srijit Mukherji’s ‘Forget Me Not.’ She has also contributed to the visual appeal of Netflix’s, ‘Masaba Masaba.’
Anasuya told the Hindustan Times, “I couldn’t believe it was happening! But as I shakily walked to the stage and stood with artists I have admired my heroes, it felt oddly natural to be welcomed with so much authenticity and love by them. I am so grateful to the jury for seeing my hard work.”
‘The Shameless,’ a noir thriller set against the backdrop of the devadasi system, with Anasuya portraying the role of Renuka. She is a woman who escapes from a brothel in Delhi after killing a police officer. Additionally, Anasuya dedicated her award to the queer and marginalised communities worldwide.
How many Indian Films have won at the Cannes Film Festival?
Here is a table mentioning the name and year, when an Indian film won at the Cannes Film Festival:
| Year | Film Name |
| 1946 | Neecha Nagar, Chetan Anand |
| 1953 | Do Bigha Zamin, Bimal Roy |
| 1954 | Boot Polish Prakash Arora |
| 1988 | Salaam Bombay! Mira Nair |
| 2013 | The Lunchbox, Ritesh Batra |
| 2015 | Masaan, Neeraj Ghaywan |
| 2020 | CatDog, Ashmita Guha Neogi |
| 2021 | A night of knowing nothing, Payal Kapadia |
| 2022 | All that breathes, Shaunak Sen |
| 2024 | All We Imagine As Light, Payal Kapadia |
In A Nutshell
Payal Kapadia and Anasuya Sengupta made history at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival by winning the ‘Grand Prix’ award and ‘Best Actress’ award respectively. They have written a new chapter in the festival’s history. Their achievements mark significant milestones for Indian filmmakers and actresses on the international stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Cannes Film Festival?
The Cannes Film Festival was first held in 1946 to recognise artistic achievement. The festival became a rendezvous for those interested in the art and influence of the movies. Moreover, it has become an International marketplace where producers and distributors can exchange ideas, view films, and sign contracts.
How do you get selected for Cannes?
The Selection Committee of the Festival de Cannes is exclusively in charge of the Official Selection and decides in which section a film can participate.
Which Indian Influencer went to Cannes?
Internet sensation Nancy Tyagi went to Cannes this year and showcased her fashionable self-stitched looks at the festival.
Is Cannes by invite only?
Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (Usually in May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres.
Who is the founder of the Cannes Film Festival?
Philippe Erlanger is the founder of this Film Festival.
Which director was banned from Cannes?
Mohammad Rasoulof, an Iranian director was stopped from attending the Cannes Film Festival.
Who sponsors the Cannes Film Festival?
Air France has been the official partner of the Festival de Cannes for the past 44 years.
