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Payal Kapadia believes that the cinema is diverse and social media platforms give accessibility to everyone to make content that can be cinematic.
Payal Kapadia is the director of All We Imagine As Light. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
All We Imagine As Light may not win at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards 2025 but filmmaker Payal Kapadia is definitely stealing hearts with her candid opinions. Recently, she sat down for a roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter where she spoke about her film, cinema and journey to the prestigious awards. During the conversation, she was asked whether TikToks and Instagram Reels are also cinema. Responding in affirmation, she said that the cinema is diverse and social media platforms give accessibility to everyone to make content that can be cinematic.
Payal Kapadia said, “I think that diversity in kinds of films, whether it’s mainstream films, arthouse films, a film made with Rs 50,000 or it’s TikTok reel or it’s an Instagram story; Those are films too! It’s so wonderful to see. So I think we need to be open about things like, what is cinema? It’s actually really diverse and this gives accessibility to people who so far have been denied that accessibility and people are grabbing it, and making, what we call, content…but for me, they can also be very cinematic. And that’s so nice!”
Payal Kapadia was nominated for the 2025 Golden Globe for Best Director in the Motion Picture category. She won the nomination alongside Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance), Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light). However, she lost the award to Brady Corbet who was honoured for her work in The Brutalist.
In another, her film All We Imagine As Light also lost to Emilia Perez in the Best Motion Picture- Non-English Language category. While her victory could have earned her the title of the first Indian female director to win in this category, her nomination is no less than an achievement.
Payal Kapadia’s film was nominated alongside some of the biggest titles of 2024. This recognition on the global stage is a significant moment in Payal’s career, especially after the Oscar snub from India. Payal’s global recognition is especially significant as it recognises a woman’s talent in a male-dominated field.
Last year, in a conversation with News18, Payal mentioned, “I still think that there’s a lot of work to be done. We need more women in all departments, whether it’s camera, sound, or production. We need more representation.” Concluding, she noted that women have a very long way to go in the industry.
Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light was released in theatres across India on November 22, 2024.
