Why India's most acclaimed film of 2024 was rejected for an Oscar submission
In short: Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light made history at Cannes, winning the Grand Prix and earning universal critical acclaim. Yet, the Film Federation of India bypassed the film for its official Oscar submission, sparking a fierce debate over what defines an Indian film and how juries select international contenders.
Directed by Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light follows two nurses, Prabha and Anu, navigating life and love in Mumbai. The film’s journey began with a historic world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, where it became the first Indian film to compete for the Palme d'Or since 1994. It ultimately secured the Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone for Indian cinema on the global stage.
Despite its international success—including topping the Sight & Sound poll for the best film of 2024 and receiving nominations at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs—the film faced a controversial snub at home. The Film Federation of India (FFI) opted to submit Laapataa Ladies for the 97th Academy Awards instead. The decision drew immediate backlash from industry figures, who compared the move to previous snubs of films like The Lunchbox and RRR.
The FFI’s reasoning was twofold and contested. FFI president Ravi Kottarakara suggested the jury viewed Kapadia’s work as a 'European film taking place in India,' while jury head Jahnu Barua later claimed the film was 'very poor technically.' Critics of the decision, however, pointed to the film's overwhelming global reception as evidence of its quality. Kapadia herself remained diplomatic, celebrating the success of both her film and Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies as a victory for female filmmakers in India.
The debate intensified after the Academy’s shortlist was released in December 2024, excluding India's chosen entry. This outcome reignited public criticism of the FFI’s selection process, with many questioning the criteria used to represent Indian storytelling. Ultimately, the film’s status as a co-production involving France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy became a central point of contention in defining its cultural identity.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: All We Imagine as Light
- Also: Wikidata — All We Imagine as Light · CC0
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