The UK trailer for All We Imagine As Light, the Grand Prix-winning film from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, has just been released by BFI Distribution. Written and directed by Payal Kapadia, the highly anticipated independent Indian feature will open in UK and Irish cinemas on 29 November 2024, with a BFI Blu-ray and streaming release on BFI Player set for early 2025.
The film recently had its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 18 October, where it sold out the 2,200-seat Royal Festival Hall, demonstrating its strong appeal to audiences. With its blend of intimate storytelling and stunning visuals, All We Imagine As Light is already being heralded as a major awards season contender.
Set against the dynamic backdrop of modern Mumbai, the film delves into the complex lives of three women. Nurse Prabha, played by Kani Kusruti (Girls Will Be Girls), finds her daily routine disrupted by an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Anu, portrayed by Divya Prabha (Family), is a free-spirited roommate struggling to find privacy for her relationship in the crowded city. Meanwhile, Chhaya Kadam (Sister Midnight) stars as Parvaty, who faces the risk of eviction following her husband’s death. A spontaneous trip to a beach town offers each of them a moment to confront their desires and reclaim their agency.
All We Imagine As Light is the first Indian film in three decades to be selected for an Official Competition at Cannes, making history not just for its country but also for Kapadia as the first female Indian director in this prestigious category.
Payal Kapadia, a Mumbai-based filmmaker and an alumna of the Film & Television Institute of India, has previously made waves with her short films Afternoon Clouds (Cannes Cinéfondation, 2017) and And What Is The Summer Saying (Berlinale, 2018). Her feature debut, A Night of Knowing Nothing (2021), won the Golden Eye Documentary Prize at Cannes. Supported by European development funds, Kapadia collaborated with French producers, crafting her latest film between Europe and India.
All We Imagine As Light is set to light up screens across the UK and Ireland on 29 November, offering audiences an emotional, visually striking exploration of friendship, desire, and the vibrant life of Mumbai.
