The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) recently applauded its alumni filmmakers for their exceptional achievements at the renowned 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Payal Kapadia, Maisam Ali, Chidanand S Naik, and esteemed cinematographer Santosh Sivan were recognized for their groundbreaking successes.
At Cannes, Kapadia stole the spotlight by clinching the Grand Prix Award, the festival's second-highest honour, making history as the first Indian filmmaker to achieve this prestigious accolade. Naik's film, "Sunflowers Were the First Ones To Know," secured the top prize in the La Cinef section, dedicated to showcasing works from film schools. Ali's "In Retreat" was featured in the ACID Cannes section, spotlighting independent cinema. Additionally, Sivan was bestowed with the Pierre Angenieux ExcelLens in Cinematography award, honouring his outstanding contributions to cinematography across Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi cinema.
Under the leadership of actor R Madhavan, FTII expressed profound pride in the accomplishments of its alumni on its official platform. The institute celebrated Kapadia, Sivan, Ali, and Naik for their significant contributions, recognizing their pivotal role in enhancing the global stature of Indian cinema.
During her time at FTII, Kapadia notably spearheaded a student protest against the appointment of actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan as its president. Despite facing disciplinary actions, including the revocation of her grant, Kapadia's journey has been marked by extraordinary success in the film industry.