BAFTA 2025: Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ earns nod for Best Film Not in the English Language

Despite ‘AWIAL’ not being India’s official entry to the Oscars, hopes remain high for Academy Award nominations, which will be announced on January 23

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s critically acclaimed drama All We Imagine as Light (AWIAL) continues its remarkable international journey, securing a nomination for Best Film Not in the English Language at the prestigious British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2025. This marks a historic moment as AWIAL becomes only the seventh Indian film to achieve this honor and the first in over a decade since The Lunchbox (2013).

Organized by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the BAFTAs celebrate outstanding cinematic achievements from around the globe. Competing alongside AWIAL in this category are Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here, Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap, and Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig.

The recognition adds to the film’s stellar trajectory, which began with a historic Grand Prix win at the 77th Cannes Film Festival — a first for an Indian film. Featuring performances by Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon, the film explores themes of identity and resilience through a narrative primarily in Malayalam, with elements of Hindi and Marathi.

Kapadia has been making waves this awards season, having also made history as the first Indian director nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes. Despite AWIAL not being India’s official entry to the Oscars, hopes remain high for Academy Award nominations, which will be announced on January 23.

The 78th BAFTA Awards ceremony is set to take place on February 16 at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Published - January 16, 2025 09:58 am IST