FTII's 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know' headed to Cannes

India continues to make waves at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival 2024, with yet another noteworthy addition to its lineup. A short film crafted by students from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune has earned a coveted selection. Titled "Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know," this cinematic creation will vie for recognition in the La Cinef section of the renowned festival in France.

The announcement was made by FTII across its social media platforms, unveiling that the film was produced as part of the institute's year-end coordinated exercise within the TV-wing.

"Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know" is a rural drama helmed by Mr. Chidanand Naik in the director's chair, with Suraj Thakur handling cinematography, Manoj V overseeing editing, Abhishek Kadam managing sound, and Pranav Khot contributing to production design. This short film will contend with 17 others for three La Cinef prizes, set to be bestowed in the Bunuel Theatre on May 23.

The diverse range of entries in this category spans Lebanon, China, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Palestine, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Australia, Israel, the US, the UK, and France. The judging panel comprises esteemed figures such as Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Paolo Moretti, Claudine Nougaret, Vladimir Perisic, and Belgian actress Lubna Azabal.

FTII provided insights into the film's storyline, describing it as "a story of an elderly woman who steals the village's rooster, which throws the community into disarray. To bring the rooster back, a prophecy is invoked, sending the old lady's family into exile." As a reminder, the Cannes Film Festival is slated to take place from May 14 to 25.

Prior announcements have also highlighted India's strong presence at Cannes this year, with Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine As Light" competing in the Palme d’Or section, and Maisam Ali's "In Retreat" securing a spot in the ACID Cannes sidebar program. Additionally, Sandhya Suri's "Santosh" and the Meeta Vashisht starrer "Shameless," directed by Konstantin Bojanov, will feature in the Un Certain Regard section.