Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... is a Kannada short film directed by Chidananda S. Naik. It was produced as part of his year-end exercise at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the 16-minute film won the La Cinef award for Best Short at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
| Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Directed by | Chidanada S Naik |
| Written by | Chidanada S Naik |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Suraj Thakur |
| Edited by | Manoj Venkatesh |
| Music by | Abhishek Kadam |
Production company | |
Running time | 16 minutes |
| Country | India |
Synopsis
editThe film is about an elderly woman who steals a prized rooster from her village, causing a disturbance that plunges the community into darkness. The villagers then go on a mission to find the rooster and bring back the light. The entire film is shot at night, creating a mysterious and intriguing atmosphere.[1][2]
Cast
edit- Jahangeer M S
- Vishwas B S
- Vasudha Bharighat
Production
editThe film features Suraj Thakur as the cinematographer, Manoj V as the editor and Abhishek Kadam handling sound design. The production faced significant challenges, including a tight shooting schedule of four days and the difficulties of filming at night in a remote location with limited resources.[1][2]
Release and recognition
editAt the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... won the first prize in the La Cinef section. The jury, led by Lubna Azabal, praised the film's storytelling and execution. The award includes a 15,000 euro grant. The film was screened at the Cinema du Pantheon on June 3 and at the MK2 Quai de Seine on June 4.[2]
Accolades
editSunflowers Were the First Ones To Know qualifies for Oscars 2025[3]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | La Cinef | Best Short | Chidananda Naik | Won | [2] |
| Bengaluru International Short Film Festival | Indian Competition | Won | [4][5] |
References
edit- ^ a b Sudevan, Praveen (2024-05-11). "Kannada short film 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know' to be screened in Cannes". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ a b c d Balaga, Marta (2024-05-23). "'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know' by Chidananda S Naik Receives Cannes' La Cinef Award for Best Short". Variety. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kannada-short-film-sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know-by-ftii-student-qualifies-for-oscars-2025-6947439
- ^ "BISFF Winners 2024".
- ^ S, Pranati A. "Dutch film wins top award at Bengaluru International Short Film Festival". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-10.