Indian Women Storytellers having a Moment in the International Film Circuit

By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor | Tuesday, 28 January 2025

Earlier last year, Indian cinema touched new heights. Various Indian productions won prestigious nominations and awards alike at coveted platforms such as Academy Awards, Sundance Fil Festival, Cannes etc.

It was a moment to remember when Guneet Monga, the producer of Netflixstreaming documentary film ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ picked up the Academy Award for the Best Documentary Short film award at the 95th Academy Awards on 13 March 2023 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

She announced with enthusiasm that this was the first win by an India production at the Academy awards. Her speech was cut shot unceremoniously, yet Indian cinephiles understood the words that Monga could not convey on the big stage.

2024 was a watershed year for Indian cinema and more so for women-led projects. Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ received wide acclaim across the globe.

Payal created history by becoming the first Indian director to win the prestigious Grand Prix prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Her Malayalam-language movie, won the prestigious honor, which is the second-most prestigious award, after the Palme d'Or.

Payal’s movie, “All We Imagine as Light" was the first Indian film to be featured in the main competition in the last 30 years. It was also the only movie made by an Indian female director to reach the top spot.

We also saw Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s debut production venture, Girls Will Be Girls, win two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The movie’s director, Shuchi Talati, won the Audience Award for World Cinema Dramatic Competition, and Preeti Panigrahi, the lead actor received the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting.

While Indian women producers have been having a great run in the International circuit, we are hopeful that the core Indian movie going audience will also be more open and welcoming towards women-led ventures.

The Indian cinema business has been undergoing a flux since the pandemic hit. All past formulae have failed and movie makers are looking to figure out new ways of getting the audience to come into theatres.

As 2025 begins, we are hopeful that women producers and storytellers will be able to bring in a new perspective to the world of movie making. We cant wait to head back to the theatres to watch great cinema.

Do let us know your thoughts.