‘Oscar is like a lobby…’: All We Imagine As Light director Payal Kapadia opens up on Aamir Khan-Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies being India’s official entry

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As a filmmaker myself, I can deeply empathize with Payal Kapadia’s journey. Her experiences mirrors my own struggles and triumphs in the world of independent cinema. The road to completion is often long, fraught with challenges, but also filled with moments of profound personal growth and artistic satisfaction.

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia recently expressed her thoughts on Laapataa Ladies being chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars instead of her own film, All We Imagine As Light. She recognized the crucial impact of financial support in the Oscar competition and disclosed that she is just now comprehending the intricate, lobby-like mechanisms at play within the selection process.

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Payal Kapadia stated that not getting her film chosen was simply a stage in her journey. She reminisced about her strong bond with All We Imagine As Light, explaining that creating the movie was an intensely intimate and tough experience for her.

If not for private financing, the filmmaker instead sought out grants and crowd-funded, spending a total of five years to bring the project to life. For her, the ultimate victory wasn’t just about the film’s completion, but having it displayed at a distinguished event such as Cannes Film Festival in 2024.

From my perspective as a lifestyle enthusiast, I must say that surpassing that point felt like an unanticipated gift, making me completely satisfied with the accomplishments I’ve already made.

In the conversation about the importance of awards, Payal expressed her viewpoint. She highlighted that for her, the ultimate accomplishment lies in the chance to launch a movie in India.

After years of hard work, Payal Kapadia expressed her excitement and curiosity about how the film will be received, noting that this milestone is something she’s truly looking forward to.

She additionally discussed how Aamir Khan’s financial support influenced his efforts to secure recognition for Laapataa Ladies within Hollywood circles, noting that money holds substantial weight in Oscar contention. She clarified that the Oscars function much like a lobbying system, and it’s only recently that she has begun to grasp the complexities of this process.

The filmmaker expressed that since it could influence the Oscars, choosing the project was shrewd, as he likens the Oscars to a lobby, and he’s currently learning a lot about this new aspect of his work.

Although she’s always looked forward to watching the Oscars on television, she acknowledged that understanding its intricacies was a fresh educational journey for her. She pondered over the impact of financial backing on a movie’s success and contrasted it with the hurdles faced when creating a film without such means.

As an ardent cinephile, I can’t help but express my profound gratitude for the financial backing my project has received. It’s not just helpful; it propels the film to new heights, making the impossible possible when cash is scarce. And let me tell you, being shortlisted in France as a potential Oscar contender feels like fate smiling down on me! I mean, who would have thought such a serendipitous twist would happen? It’s like winning the lottery for filmmakers!

For those unfamiliar, the film “All We Imagine As Light,” which garnered attention at the Cannes Film Festival by taking home the Grand Prix award, had high expectations for an Oscar nomination. Yet, it was surprisingly not included in the official submission list, leaving many speculating about the reasons behind its exclusion.

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2024-11-08 12:37