After making history at the 77th
Festival de Cannes
as the first-ever Indian film to win the prestigious Grand Prix,
All We Imagine as Light
is set to open the eagerly awaited 2024 edition of the
MAMI Mumbai Film Festival
on 18 October 2024.
Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, All We Imagine as Light follows the story of nurse Prabha, whose life is upended when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband.
Her younger roommate, Anu, struggles to find a space in the crowded city to spend time with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Parvati, the cook at the hospital and Prabha’s close friend, offers support. Together, the three women embark on an unplanned trip to a beach town in Ratnagiri, where they reflect on their choices and the direction their lives are taking.
Interim Festival Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur expressed his excitement about the film’s selection, saying, “We’re delighted to open the festival this year with a film that has the city of Mumbai at its heart. All We Imagine as Light will always be remembered as a film that won the Grand Prix at Cannes, but it is also an independent film that faced many challenges, especially in securing funding, before its debut in competition at Cannes. As we begin a new phase in MAMI, this film embodies the kind of cinema we aim to showcase -providing a platform for
independent films
to reach a wider audience.”
Director Payal Kapadia, reflecting on the honour, shared her thoughts: “To have All We Imagine as Light open MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is a tremendous honour. When I was a student in Mumbai, MAMI gave me a glimpse into world cinema and films from other parts of the country. I’m thrilled that people in Mumbai will be able to see the film here first.”
Actor, producer, distributor, and MAMI board member, Rana Daggubati, also expressed his excitement: “After making history at Cannes and enjoying a tremendous theatrical opening in France, we are thrilled to bring the film to festival goers and audiences in India. MAMI champions independent voices and South Asian talent, and opening the festival with All We Imagine as Light supports that mission.”
Co-produced by petit chaos (France), Chalk & Cheese, and Another Birth (India), and distributed by Spirit Media in India, this critically acclaimed film is also slated for a theatrical release across the country.
The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, will run from 19 to 24 October with over 110 films in more than 50 languages, spanning features and non-features across all genres.
