Filmmaker Payal Kapadia has added another significant accolade to her growing list of achievements by winning the Best International Feature at the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards for her debut feature, All We Imagine As Light. This comes after the movie was snubbed at the Golden Globes 2025 Awards losing out on 2 nominations. Read to know more about her win at the NYFCC,
Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine Light Wins At NYFCC
A photo of Payal Kapadia at the event, addressing the audience, has been widely shared on social media, reflecting the widespread excitement over her win. The victory comes shortly after All We Imagine As Light missed out on the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, a category dominated by the critically acclaimed Emilia Perez.
Payal Kapadia’s feature debut has had an exceptional journey since its premiere. The film gained global acclaim when it won the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Indian film to achieve this milestone. Set in Mumbai, the film explores themes of love, longing, and loneliness through the intertwined lives of three women: two Malayali nurses, Prabha and Anu, and their friend Parvati. Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, the film has captivated audiences and critics alike.
Produced by Petit Chaos, Chalk & Cheese, and Another Birth, the Malayalam-Hindi drama has received recognition on multiple platforms. Kapadia has also been nominated for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards in the First-Time Director category, a prestigious honor that highlights her growing impact on the global cinema stage.
Also Read: Golden Globes 2025: Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light Misses Out On Two Golden Globe Awards!
More Details
This NYFCC win for Kapadia marks an important moment for Indian cinema, coming three years after RRR director SS Rajamouli was honored with the Best Director award at the same event. The recognition also builds anticipation for Kapadia’s potential BAFTA nomination, where she has already made it to the directors’ longlist.
From her earlier works, including Afternoon Clouds (2017) and A Night of Knowing Nothing (2021), to her current success, Payal Kapadia continues to break barriers, leaving an indelible mark on international cinema.