December 10, 2024: New Delhi: Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s debut production, Girls Will Be Girls, has earned two prestigious nominations at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards. The film is nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which recognizes films made on a budget of under $1 million, and Best Supporting Performance for Kani Kusruti.
A Story of Rebellion and Reflection
Directed by Shuchi Talati, Girls Will Be Girls follows the story of Mira, a 16-year-old girl navigating her rebellious awakening, intricately intertwined with her mother’s unfulfilled coming-of-age journey.
The film will compete for the John Cassavetes Award alongside other independent titles like Big Boys, Ghostlight, Jazzy, and The People’s Joker.
Kani Kusruti, who has already garnered acclaim for her role in the Golden Globe-nominated All We Imagine As Light, is nominated in the Best Supporting Performance category. She faces tough competition from actors such as Yura Borisov and Karren Karagulian (Anora), Joan Chen, Danielle Deadwyler, Kieran Culkin, and Brigette Lundy-Paine, among others.
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A Proud Moment for the Producers
Richa Chadha, who co-produced the film with Ali Fazal under their banner Pushing Buttons Studio, expressed immense pride in the film’s achievement.
“To be nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which celebrates independent filmmaking at its finest, is truly an honor. And Kani’s nomination reflects her exceptional talent and the amazing year she’s having,” Chadha said in a statement.
Fazal called the nominations a “dual celebration,” highlighting the importance of independent cinema.
“Independent films often struggle for recognition, but the Independent Spirit Awards celebrate stories like ours. Girls Will Be Girls is proof that Indian stories can find a global audience through co-productions. Kani’s performance is transformative, and her nomination is well-deserved,” he added.
A Festival Darling
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it won two awards. It also recently received accolades at the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) Film Festival and will premiere on Prime Video on December 18.
The 40th Independent Spirit Awards will take place on February 22, 2025, in Santa Monica, California, celebrating the creativity and resilience of independent filmmakers worldwide.
This milestone highlights the growing global recognition of Indian cinema and its ability to tell compelling, universal stories.
