Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' Achieves Three BAFTA Nominations For 2025 Awards

Payal Kapadia's film "All We Imagine As Light" is making waves on the international awards scene. It has secured spots on the BAFTA Film Awards longlists in three categories, including Best Director. The British Academy revealed the first round of voting results across 25 categories for its upcoming awards gala. This Malayalam-Hindi film made history by being the first Indian movie to win the Grand Prix at Cannes in May.

In addition to Kapadia's film, Sandhya Suri's "Santosh" and Karan Kandhari's "Sister Midnight" are also nominated. They appear in the longlist for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel is mentioned for his directorial debut "Monkey Man." Patel is also listed in the Leading Actor category. According to BAFTA, these films will move forward to the nominating stage of voting, which began recently and will end on January 10.

The three nominations for Kapadia's movie come shortly after it received two nods at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. Her feature directorial debut is nominated for Best Motion Picture Non-English Language and Best Direction - Motion Picture at an awards gala scheduled for January 6. Recently, it was named Best International Film by the New York Film Critics Circle and won a similar award at the Gotham Awards.

The film delves into the lives of two Malayali nurses in Mumbai: Prabha (Kani Kusruti), who longs for her absent husband, and Anu (Divya Prabha), her outgoing roommate involved in a forbidden romance. Through their friendship, themes of love, identity, and urban life's contradictions are explored. Chhaya Kadam plays a significant role in this narrative.

Suri's "Santosh," set in Uttar Pradesh, premiered at Cannes 2024 in the Un Certain Regard section. It has been chosen as Britain's Oscar entry for international features. The film stars Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar and follows a newly widowed housewife who inherits her late husband's police constable job while investigating a young girl's murder.

Kandhari's "Sister Midnight" is described as a "dark physical comedy" with Radhika Apte leading as Uma, a disillusioned newlywed lacking domestic skills. Living in her husband's cramped flat, she ventures into the city to explore new desires and impulses. Ashok Pathak and Chhaya Kadam also play pivotal roles.

Dev Patel’s Directorial Debut

"Monkey Man" marks Dev Patel's directorial debut. Known for his roles in "Slumdog Millionaire," "Hotel Mumbai," and others, Patel stars as Kid in this Mumbai-set film inspired by Lord Hanuman's legend. The story follows Kid seeking revenge against corrupt leaders responsible for his mother's death and ongoing oppression of the poor.

The movie features several Indian actors like Sikander Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Makarand Deshpande, Pitobash, and Vipin Sharma. Final nominations will be announced on January 15, with the BAFTA Film Awards taking place on February 16, 2025.