The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The 77th Cannes Film Festival witnessed a historic moment for Indian cinema as “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know,” a short film directed by Chidanand S Naik, a student of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), won the coveted La Cinef Award for Best Short. The award was announced on May 23, 2024, marking a significant achievement for Indian cinema on the international stage.
The film, a culmination project for Naik’s course at FTII, features contributions from fellow students Suraj Thakur (cinematography), Manoj V (editing), and Abhishek Kadam (sound). The narrative revolves around an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, causing chaos in the community and leading to her family’s exile due to a prophecy.
This award underscores the consistent performance of FTII students at Cannes, continuing the legacy of previous winners such as the 2019 short film “CATDOG.” The festival this year also saw other FTII alumni like Payal Kapadia, Maisam Ali, and Santosh Sivan receive recognition.
Chidanand S Naik, before joining FTII in 2022, was selected as one of the “75 Creative Minds” at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), an initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to support emerging talents in cinema. This accolade at Cannes further solidifies his standing as a promising filmmaker.
Shri R. Madhavan, President of FTII, congratulated Naik and his team, stating, “Congratulations to Mr. Chidananda Naik and to the entire team of ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ for this very prestigious honour. May this be just the beginning of an illustrious career with many more extraordinary recognitions and love. Also, a big cheer and respect to all staff and administration of FTII for churning out such world-class talent.”
The La Cinef section of the Cannes Film Festival is dedicated to discovering and encouraging new talents from film schools worldwide. “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know” was selected from 2,263 submissions across 555 film schools globally, standing out among 18 selected shorts.
FTII’s emphasis on a practice-based, co-learning approach has consistently led its students to excel at both national and international film festivals. The institute’s unique pedagogical methods and collaborative projects like Naik’s film have bolstered its reputation as one of the premier film schools in the world, making India proud.
The recognition of “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know” at Cannes not only highlights the talent emerging from FTII but also marks a significant milestone in the global appreciation of Indian cinema.