The Oscar nominations are out, and as always, there are fan favorites and some surprising titles that have raised eyebrows. However, there are also some heartbreaks.
The biggest heartbreak comes from India: All We Imagine As Light didn’t make the cut in the final nominations for the Oscars 2025.
Payal Kapadia’s film has been a King Midas, winning gold wherever it went. From triumphing at the Cannes Film Festival with the Grand Prix to being nominated in two prestigious categories—Best Director and Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language—it has been nothing short of an exquisite cinematic experience. Yet, despite its acclaim, the film fell just short of the Oscars’ final list.
In terms of campaigning, the film avoided flashy strategies, relying instead on strong word-of-mouth and letting critics do the talking.
In recent years, the Oscars have faced growing criticism from fans, with the biggest night for cinephiles often failing to meet expectations.
The quality of All We Imagine As Light is unquestionable, as the film has garnered accolades worldwide. Was it the lack of a more aggressive campaign that let it down? We may never know the answer.
Regardless of the reason, it’s undeniably disheartening. The Best International Feature Film category feels incomplete without All We Imagine As Light.
With stars like Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha, and the visionary brilliance of Payal Kapadia, this was a labor of love and a once-in-a-lifetime effort. Unfortunately, India faces yet another heartbreak on the Oscar stage.