BAFTA 2025: Payal Kapadia¡¯s All We Imagine As Light snubbed as Emilia P¨¦rez steals the spotlight

The BAFTA 2025 awards were a rollercoaster of emotions, especially for Indian cinephiles who had pinned their hopes on Payal Kapadia¡¯s All We Imagine As Light. The Mumbai-set film, featuring stellar performances from Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, made waves globally but ultimately missed the coveted Best Film Not in the English Language award. The honor instead went to Jacques Audiard¡¯s Emilia P¨¦rez, a Spanish-language French crime-musical that has been sweeping the awards circuit.

About All We Imagine As Light

Kapadia¡¯s film tells a deeply personal yet universally relatable tale. It revolves around Nurse Prabha, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a mysterious gift from her estranged husband. Meanwhile, her roommate Anu battles the chaos of Mumbai while trying to hold on to her love life. The film¡¯s evocative storytelling and immersive cinematography made it a strong contender, but it wasn¡¯t enough to surpass the gripping narrative of Emilia P¨¦rez.

About Emilia P¨¦rez

Emilia P¨¦rez has been making headlines for more than just its cinematic brilliance. The film follows cartel leader Emilia, played by Karla Sof¨ªa Gasc¨®n, as she embarks on a daring plan to fake her own death and finally embrace her true identity. However, the film¡¯s awards campaign faced turbulence due to resurfaced offensive tweets from Gasc¨®n. BAFTA night took an unexpected turn when director Jacques Audiard subtly distanced himself from the controversy while acknowledging the cast¡¯s contribution.

While All We Imagine As Light faced heartbreak, it wasn¡¯t alone in its loss. Other nominees in the Best Film Not in the English Language category included I¡¯m Still Here (Portuguese), Kneecap (Irish/English), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Persian). However, the night wasn¡¯t all about disappointments. Director Rich Peppiatt¡¯s Kneecap triumphed in the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer category, marking a huge win for Irish storytelling.