In a bittersweet moment for Indian cinema, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light lost the Best Foreign Film award at the Critics Choice Awards to Emilia Perez. The film, which had already made history as the first Indian movie to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, was among the frontrunners for top honours this awards season.

The category featured strong contenders, including Flow (Latvia), I’m Still Here (Brazil), Kneecap (Ireland), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany). Despite the high expectations surrounding All We Imagine As Light due to its poetic storytelling and stunning visuals, it ultimately fell short of claiming victory on the Hollywood stage.

The Critics Choice setback follows a similar outcome at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, where All We Imagine As Light was nominated for Best Non-English Language Motion Picture but lost to Emilia Perez once again. While the film’s international recognition has been remarkable, its golden streak has not translated into major American accolades.

Adding to the disappointment, All We Imagine As Light was not India’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards. The Film Federation of India selected Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) instead, but the film failed to secure an Oscar nomination.

Despite these setbacks, All We Imagine As Light remains a significant milestone for Indian cinema, bringing global attention to independent storytelling from the country. Kapadia’s deeply evocative film has left a lasting impact, even if its awards-season journey didn’t yield the anticipated victories.