‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ selected for Cannes Film Festival

A remarkable achievement in the world of cinema sees ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’, a film directed by Chidanand Naik, a student of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), securing a coveted spot in the ‘La Cinef’ Competitive section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France. Scheduled from May 15th to 24th, 2024, the festival promises to be a celebration of emerging talents from film schools worldwide.

Out of a staggering 2,263 submissions from film schools globally, only 18 shorts were chosen, with Naik’s work being the sole representative from India in the ‘La Cinef’ category. The film, which explores the disruption caused in a village when an elderly woman absconds with the community’s rooster, delves into themes of prophecy and exile, promising a compelling narrative for audiences at Cannes.

‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ marks a significant milestone as the first-ever selection from a student of FTII’s one-year Television course to grace the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This achievement underscores the institute’s commitment to fostering talent through its unique pedagogy and practice-based co-learning approach, which has consistently produced award-winning alumni on both national and international stages.