Despite missing out on becoming India’s entry for the best international feature at the 97th Oscars, Payal Kapadia’s debut feature, All We Imagine as Light, will now compete independently for all the categories, including best picture, director and best original screenplay at the Academy Awards, co-producers Slideshow announced on Saturday.

The Film Federation India chose Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies as India’s Oscar entry over All We Imagine as Light. But Rao’s satirical film that explores patriarchy in rural India failed to make it to the Oscar shortlist unveiled earlier this week.

All We Imagine as Light premiered at 2024 Cannes International Film Festival in May where it won the prestigious Grand Prix award. On Friday, All We Imagine as Light also took home the award for best international film at the Florida Film Critics Circle. It has earned two nominations at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards — Best foreign language film of the year and best film of the year.

This recognition adds to the growing list of accolades for Kapadia’s film. All We Imagine As Light was named best international feature film at the 2024 Gotham Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles , Chicago Film Critics Association, San Diego Film Critics Society, Phoenix Critics Circle, Toronto Film Critics Association, Lumiere Awards and Asia Pacific Film Awards.

Set in Mumbai, the Malayalam-language drama features a stellar cast, including Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon and Azees Nedumangad. The film explores the lives of three working women. Nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti) faces an emotional turmoil when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband, while her younger roommate Anu (Divya Prabha) struggles to find a private space for her relationship with a Muslim man (Hridhu Haroon). Their paths cross in a transformative journey to a coastal town, where they seek solace and closure.