The magazine also listed “Anora,” “La Chimera,” “Dahomey,” and “Hard Truths” as the top five films. Kapadia’s movie, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes, tells a love story that speaks against Islamophobia and other prejudices related to religion, class, and caste that affect real people’s lives.
This year, there are more female directors in the top ten films than male ones. This only happened once before, in 2020, during the pandemic when there were seven women listed. This year, there are six women directors recognized.
Payal expressed her happiness when she learned about this honor. She shared her feelings in a message saying she was “astounded” and “very grateful.” She mentioned that during her time at the Film & Television Institute of India, the magazine held a special place for many film enthusiasts, including herself.
The idea for “All We Imagine As Light” came to Payal while she was still in school. At first, the idea felt overwhelming, and she almost abandoned it. However, a few years later, she returned to it with a new mindset. She took it one step at a time, and slowly, the movie started to take shape.
Payal believes that making a film is like organizing the chaos in your mind. Now that her film is out in India and around the world, she feels grateful for how people have embraced it. She thanked her team, saying they all worked hard for many years to create this “handmade film.”
The film has also won several awards, including Best International Film at the New York Film Critics Circle and a Jury Grand Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Although it wasn’t chosen to represent India for the Oscars, people are hopeful it will gain recognition in the general categories at the 2025 Academy Awards.
The movie, which was released in Indian theaters on November 22, stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam. It explores love and loneliness in Mumbai through the lives of three women. Prabha receives a surprise gift from her husband in Germany, while Anu struggles to find a quiet place for romance. Parvati, the widow and best friend of Prabha, faces pressure from property developers trying to take her home.
Meanwhile, the film “Laapataa Ladies” (Lost Ladies), produced by Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, was chosen to represent India at the Oscars in the international film category.