Payal Kapadia receives 'Spirit of Cinema' award at the 29th 'Kerala International Film Festival'

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia was honored with the 'Spirit of Cinema' award on Friday at the 29th 'Kerala International Film Festival'. The importance of this award is that this award was given in honor of the historic Grand Prix win at the 'Cannes Film Festival' for her film 'All We Imagine as Light'. The achievement made her the first Indian filmmaker to be included in the main competition section of Cannes in 30 years. Apart from the Grand Prix win, the film is also nominated for two Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards 2025. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was the one who presented the award to Kapadia.

Talking about the event, Chief Minister Vijayan praised the festival for its focus on inclusivity and feminist politics. He said, "The 29th International Film Festival of Kerala provided a remarkable experience. The festival strongly advanced feminist politics, with over 40 films directed by women being screened. PK Rosie was honored through the festival's signature film. The event became a platform for unity and solidarity. The festival stood in solidarity with the rights of the oppressed and the oppressed. Every film was screened in front of a packed audience, reflecting the overwhelming support and enthusiasm for the event."

The festival was outstanding with a grand ceremony at the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on December 13. It ended on December 20. The festival showcased many brilliant films.

'All We Imagine as Light' is making waves at major international awards. The film created history by becoming the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024. It has also won the Jury Grand Prize at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Best International Feature Film award at the Gotham Awards.