Payal Kapadia speaks on Laapataa Ladies being India’s official entry for Oscars over her Cannes Award-winning film All We Imagine As Light: “Oscar is like a lobby”

When filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s first feature film, All We Imagine As Light, won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024, she became a celebrated name globally. Yet, for the 38-year-old FTII alumna, this success built on a long list of accolades, including the L’Œil d’or (The Golden Eye) Award for her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing at Cannes 2021. Now, as her feature film readies for release in India on November 22, Kapadia speaks candidly about her journey and the complexities of the Oscar race.

Choosing Laapataa Ladies for the Oscars In a chat with Hindustan Times, she asked about her film All We Imagine As Light not being India’s official submission for the Oscars. Kapadia expressed no disappointment, saying she respects the choice of Laapataa Ladies. “I already got a lot from this film,” she said, adding that it took years of effort and grant-based funding to bring her film to life. Reflecting on the success of the Cannes selection, she remarked, “For me, the fact that the film got made, it got shown at this really big festival, has been a lot. Anything else I get more than that, I’m like, oh, wow, one more thing.”

Discussing the Academy Awards process, Kapadia explained the role of financial support in securing Oscar nominations. She acknowledged that Laapataa Ladies benefited from strong backing. “That matters in the Oscar race, so in a way, it’s a sensible choice because the Oscar is like a lobby,” she noted. “Having the financial support is a very good thing and it takes a film much further than when you do not have any money to do it.” The Challenges of Competing in International Arenas Kapadia admitted that she was not fully aware of the resources needed for a serious Oscar bid, noting that it involves extensive lobbying and networking. “I never used to follow the Oscars so intricately… but what it actually means and what goes into it, I am learning now,” she revealed. The director’s experience highlights the complexities and unique challenges that come with competing on an international level, where financial resources can significantly impact a film’s reach and visibility.

Her feature’s shortlisting in France as a possible submission for the Oscars, she mentioned, was an unexpected honour. “My film being shortlisted in France as a potential submission for the Oscars was very random,” she said, indicating how international recognition often involves a combination of opportunity and preparation.

Kapadia’s first feature film, All We Imagine As Light, is set to release across India on November 22, and she is eagerly anticipating how Indian audiences will receive it. The film, which follows three migrant women in Mumbai, stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam and weaves a story of resilience and survival in the bustling metropolis.

Also Read: Kiran Rao says discussion of Laapataa Ladies’ selection as India’s official entry for Oscars 2025 at London School of Economics reaffirmed belief in “transformative power of storytelling”

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