As a filmmaker, there are a few places that you would be thrilled to screen your film at. And then there are others that you can only dream of, hoping that those mythical realms will someday be within reach. As clichéd as it sounds, dreams of creating work that would admit you in these exalted spaces help keep you going when the going gets tough, as it often does.
All That Breathes, our labour of love, has been named as an official selection at Cannes 2022. It feels a bit unreal even as I typed that last sentence. Not unreal because we ever doubted ourselves, but because it’s not everyday that you can say that your next screening happens to be at the world’s most storied film festival.
There are so many people to thank. The crew, which through everything that was thrown at them, kept coming back. Not like a kite, but maybe like a woodpecker, pecking away on a daily basis in the belief that we have something truly special on our hands. Aman, Siraj, Ben, Riju, Niladri, Arjun, Vedant, Charlotte, Al Nawaz, Pew and others have given more than just their blood, sweat and tears (sometimes literally) to ensure that this film turns out how we had imagined it.
And how could we forget the captain of our ship, the irrepressible Shaunak Sen. Over the last decade, I have learnt so much from you in terms of craft, thinking through a film, how to approach and appreciate characters. Through all these lessons, the single biggest thing I have learnt from you is to have a level head even when things are going woefully wrong. ‘The film is bigger than us’ doesn’t seem an empty credo when I see you at work. And for that, I will always be grateful.
I know it’s been a long winded post, but there are a few things that really mean something to you. This is one of that. Thank you everyone who helped us achieve this high. And to my fellow crew mates, I will see you at Cannes.#cannesfilmfestival #allthatbreathes
Not usually the one to announce stuff on Instagram but this is huge. Over the last two years, I have spent most of my time and mental space on a feature documentary that was equal parts challenging as it was nourishing.
Thrilled to announce that we’re premiering 'All That Breathes' at @sundanceorg 's Sundance Film Festival! #Sundance 2022 will be both in person and online, so you can join in from anywhere in the US. January 20-30.
This film is extremely close to my heart, not only because of how much it taught me, but because in the all consuming darkness that is the pandemic, this film was a beacon that kept me going.
Thank you, Sundance. And to my dispersed crew mates, see you in America!
