'All We Imagine as Light' to 'Manthan': 8 Indian films at Cannes 2024

The 77th Cannes Film Festival will begin on May 14. And this year, Indian cinema has a strong presence. Many films from the country have been selected for different sections, which includes Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' and restored version of Shyam Benegal's 'Manthan'.

Have a look at some of the Indian films turning heads at Cannes 2024:

All We Imagine As Light

Directed by Payal Kapadia, this is the first Indian film to compete for the Palme d'Or award at Cannes Film Festival after around 30 years. In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha's daily routine is disrupted when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Meanwhile, her younger roommate, Anu, struggles to find a private place in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A getaway to a beach town provides them with the opportunity to fulfil their desires in a secluded setting.

Santosh

British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri's film 'Santosh' has been selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the festival. Written and directed by Suri, this film is shrouded in mystery. Shahana Goswami portrays Santosh, a young widow who inherits her husband's role as a police constable in the rural region of North India. As a low-caste girl is discovered raped and murdered, Santosh becomes entangled in the investigation, mentored by inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajawar).

Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know

A film by FTII students, 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know', has been selected for the prestigious La Cinef Competitive section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The intriguing title of Chidananda S Naik's directorial hints at a film that delves into deeper themes. The 16-minute short tells the story of a village thrown into chaos by an elderly woman who steals a rooster. To bring the rooster back, a prophecy is invoked, sending the old lady’s family into exile.

Manthan

Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal returns to Cannes with Manthan. The Cannes Film Festival 2024 will showcase the restored version of 'Manthan', a 1976 film by Benegal. Starring Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad and Amrish Puri, it was inspired by the pioneering milk cooperative movement led by Verghese Kurien.

Sister Midnight

This film, directed by Karan Kandhari, is going to premiere at Directors' Fortnight Cannes. It is the only Indian film selected for the Cannes sidebar. It stars Radhika Apte as Uma, a young woman who navigates the challenges of married life in a Mumbai slum. Fueled by a desire for revenge, Uma's journey is both original and darkly humorous.

Shameless

Konstantin Bojanov’s romantic drama might be a Bulgarian film but was shot in India and has Indian actors in cast. The film has been chosen for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival 2024.

In The Retreat

Maisam Ali, a Ladakh native born in Iran, is the first-ever Indian filmmaker whose film will be screened under the ACID (Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema) section in Cannes, which promotes independent cinema.

Bunnyhood

Indian filmmaker Mansi Maheshwari has secured a spot in the La Cinef category. The animation director, born in Meerut, earned her place at Cannes with her film 'Bunnyhood,' which she made as her graduation project at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in London.