In a significant achievement for India at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Chidananda S Naik’s film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know secured the first prize in the prestigious La Cinef section. Naik, a doctor-turned-filmmaker from Mysuru, created this film as part of his coursework at Pune's Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The film, inspired by a Kannada folk tale, narrates the story of an old woman who steals a rooster, showcasing Naik's ability to blend traditional narratives with cinematic excellence.
This is the first time a film by a student from the 1-year Television degree has been chosen for the famous Cannes Film Festival.
The second prize was shared by Out of the Widow Through the Wall, directed by Asya Segalovich of Columbia University, and The Chaos She Left Behind, directed by Nikos Kolioukos of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. The third award in the La Cinef competition went to Mansi Maheshwari's animated film Bunnyhood. Maheshwari, who was born in Meerut and a former NIFT Delhi student, made the film while attending the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom.
The Cannes Film Festival awards a 15,000 euro grant for the first prize winner, 11,250 euros for the runner and 7,500 euros for the third prize recipient.
The awarded films will be screened at the Cinema du Pantheon on June 3 and at the MK2 Quai de Seine on June 4.
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