The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival is all set to begin on May 14. One of the most prestigious and celebrated film festivals in the world takes place annually in Cannes, France, and showcases a wide range of films from various genres and countries, including feature films, documentaries, and short films.
The festival features several sections, including the Official Selection, which includes films competing for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest prize, as well as out-of-competition screenings, special screenings, and sidebars such as the Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week. In addition to screening films, the Cannes Film Festival also hosts press conferences, industry events, and parties, making it a significant networking opportunity for filmmakers, producers, distributors, and other professionals in the film industry.
Here is a list of Indian films that will be screened this time at the prestigious film festival you should watch out for.
Indian Movies At Cannes Film Festival 2024
1. All We Imagine As Light by Payal Kapadia
This film is the first Indian film in 30 years and the first film ever by an Indian female director to be screened under the main segment (Palme d’Or) of the prestigious film gala. The last Indian movie to be screened as part of the Competition section was Shaji N Karun’s Swaham in 1994. All We Imagine As Light is also a part of the Competition section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
The story of the Malayalam movie revolves around Prabha, a nurse whose life takes an unexpected turn when her estranged husband presents her with a surprising gift. Meanwhile, her roommate Anu endeavors to find a secluded spot in the bustling city for intimate moments with her boyfriend, but faces challenges. Their journey unfolds as they embark on a road trip to a coastal town, where the enchanting forest serves as a canvas for their aspirations to come alive. The film will premiere at 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2024.
Also Read: Two Indian Films Enter Cannes Competition After 30 Years Of Wait, Who All Have Won It Before?
2. Santosh by Sandhya Suri
The film by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri will be screened at the Un Certain Regard section of 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Starring Shahana Goswami in the lead role, the film’s story revolves around a newly widowed woman, who inherits her husband’s job as a police constable in rural northern India.
3. Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know by Chidananda S Naik
The Kannada short film was made by FTII student Chidanand Naik, who converted a folktale that he had been listening to since his childhood into a film. The 15-minute movie has been selected for the Cinéfondation or La Cinef section of the Cannes Film Festival. Talking about the film, Naik told The Hindu, “My dream has been to transform the myths and folktales of India into cinematic experiences, and with such a wealth of stories waiting to be told, this short film feels like the perfect place to start.” Furthermore, he talked about the challenges to shoot the movie and said, “We just got four days to shoot. Shooting entirely at night with limited resources was tough, further amplified by the difficult geography of the location. Public transportation wasn’t accessible, so everyone had to carry equipment throughout the night with a minimal crew. Those four days were gruelling, with everyone exhausted and tired, yet driven by an unwavering passion.”
4. Manthan by Shyam Benegal
The restored version of Shyam Benegal’s critically acclaimed movie Manthan is set to grace the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. The movie starring Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah and Kulbhushan Kharbanda among others will be screened under the Cannes Classics selection, which was created 20 years ago to showcase classics, restored prints and documentaries.
5. Sister Midnight by Karan Kandhari
The Mumbai-set dark comedy starring Radhika Apte has been selected under the Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des cinéastes) category at the Cannes film festival 2024. The story of the film directed by Karan Kandhari centers on a wife who transforms into a relentless, primal presence within the bounds of her marriage.
6. In Retreat by Maisam Ali
Maisam Ali, will be screened under the ACID (Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema) section, a section that has been showcasing and promoting independent cinema since the early 1990s, at the Cannes 2024.
7. Shameless by Konstantin Bojanov
Made by Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov, Shameless has been entirely shot in India. The story of the film revolves around Renuka who takes refuge in a northern India community of sex workers after killing a cop in a Delhi brothel. She soon falls in love with a 17-year-old Devika. Despite facing numerous obstacles, they endeavor to carve out their own path to freedom.
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