Payal Kapadia’s ”All We Imagine As Light’ Loses To ‘Emilia Perez’ At 2025 Critics Choice Awards

February 8, 2025: At the 30th Critics Choice Awards, the category of Best Foreign Language Film saw fierce competition, with Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light vying for the top honor. However, the award went to Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language French musical crime drama directed by the acclaimed Jacques Audiard.

Despite the loss, All We Imagine As Light has made a significant impact on the international film industry, garnering attention and praise for its evocative storytelling and powerful performances.

All We Imagine As Light, which made history as the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, continues to shine globally. The film tells the poignant story of a troubled nurse and her young roommate as they confront their desires during a trip to a beach town. The Indo-French co-production, starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, marked a major achievement for Indian cinema, with its inclusion in the Critics Choice Awards serving as a proud moment for Indian fans.

On the other hand, Emilia Perez, a gripping musical crime drama, took home the Best Foreign Language Film award. The film, based on Jacques Audiard’s opera libretto, tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader (played by Karla Sofia Gascon), who seeks the help of a lawyer (played by Zoe Saldana) to transition into a woman. Premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the film won the Jury Prize and Best Actress for its exceptional female ensemble, including Gascon’s groundbreaking performance. Emilia Perez has also earned accolades at major awards such as the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.

Emilia Perez received praise for its handling of complex themes such as gender identity, crime, and societal expectations, as well as for its evocative direction and music. The win marks another high point in the film’s already impressive awards season.

The Critics Choice Awards ceremony, which took place on February 7, 2025, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, was streamed live in India on Lionsgate Play.