May 02, 2026 3:19pm IST
This Is Also Encouraging News For Emerging Indian Filmmakers, Especially FTII Students, Says Vani Tripathi Tikoo (EXCLUSIVE)
In a landmark decision the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced a new set of rules that will change the way India sends film for Oscar Nominations. For years the Film Federation of India (FFI) has been the authority responsible for choosing the country’s official entry at the Academy Awards.
The best example to explain what this change entails is to revisit the 2024 Grand Prix winner at Cannes - Payal Kapadia’s "All We Imagine as Light". What was considered an easy choice became a controversy when Kiran Rao’s "Laapata Ladies" was selected by FFI as India’s choice at the Oscars. As the move reshapes pathways to the Oscars, Variety India spoke to Actor/ producer, Artistic director, IFFD Vani Tripathi Tikoo, who views it as a decisive step toward amplifying independent cinema and expanding opportunities for filmmakers operating outside traditional systems.
What is you take on the new Oscar rule that now lets festival winning films become eligible for nomination ?
I think the new Oscar eligibility rule is absolutely fantastic. If you look at the changing scenario of how films are produced today and the way they are being written, there is a democratization of content happening across the globe. Now, eligibility will not be limited only to films officially nominated by countries through organisations accredited by the Academy, but also to those that win at major festivals. Films that win at Cannes, Locarno, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and other festivals worldwide will finally carry greater weight with the Academy, which has not always been the case. In a nutshell, this is a win for independent cinema.
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What do you think this means for India?
For India, it means many, many independent filmmakers. For example, Payal Kapadia, whose film, “All We Imagine Is Light”, won the big prize at Cannes. Absolute eligibility possible because the film got stuck in a diatribe between whether it's a film which is to be an origin country being France or India. And that is where I think it was in the limbo kind of situation for a very long time. So for filmmakers all across the world who may or may not have a studio backing them, this is a very big opportunity which will become something which will pave the way for independent cinema going globally.
How do you see the change impacting the way we have been sending Indian films to the Oscar?
Well, the films from India over the past few years have been a topic of debate. Sometimes the films have been good, but sometimes they've been very substandard. The point being that I will not adjudicate a negative here. Every jury has a mind of its own. But very much like when you are, for example, certifying a film, the panel of members which are seeing the film with you will also have an opinion as much as you yourself. You know, that is the situation at play. Now, if the films win big, you know, in other festivals, for example, Indian cinema is finally going through a breakthrough when it comes to international film festival accolades. And I think that definitely is going to give a lot of heft and a lot of prowess to independent filmmakers from India across Indian languages, not just Hindi.
What role do you see the International Film Festival Of India playing in the new scenario?
Well, if we should play a more international role in the mainstreaming of independent films, both films which are at Film Bazaar in terms of the viewing room and the work in progress lab. And I also think this should also open gates for other film festivals, whether it is the brand new one launched in Delhi or the Kerala Film Festival or Dharamshala and so many other festivals which do such great work when it comes to platforming Indian cinema, which is independent in nature.
But yes, the responsibility of being a big international film festival lies with IFFI, which should pave the way to getting independent films, finding more markets all across the world and also finding parallels of competition with film festivals all across the world. And I think fantastic news for most filmmakers from India, including I should especially mention the FTII students who've been having a winning streak at La Cinef (formerly called Cinéfondation, is an official Cannes Film Festival selection dedicated to showcasing student films from film schools worldwide) in Cannes for the past few years.
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