Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha, are thrilled about their inaugural production, 'Girls Will Be Girls,' dpremiering at the esteemed Sundance Film Festival. The film secures its spot in the fiercely competitive World Dramatic Feature category, selected from a vast pool of submissions, affirming Sundance's global significance in the film festival circuit.
'Girls Will Be Girls' stands as one of the privileged 16 films selected to compete at the festival, a remarkable feat that places it among a select group of Indian narrative features to achieve such recognition at Sundance. Directed by Shuchi Talati, the film unfolds in a boarding school nestled in a small Himalayan hill town in northern India.
It chronicles the journey of Mira, a 16-year-old whose rebellious awakening intertwines with her mother's unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences. Produced under Pushing Buttons Studios, launched by Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal in March 2021, the film marks their foray into film production. The cast features acclaimed Malayalam actress Kani Kusruti, Jitin Gulati, alongside newcomers Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron in leading roles.
Talking about the film, director Shuchi said, "I am delighted that my first feature has been selected at the Mecca of cinema, Sundance. It is heartening to see a film shot and conceptualized in India make it to this mammoth international festival. At the heart of this coming of age drama is a love story between a mother and a daughter, and even though it is very rooted in Indian ethos, I am glad it resonates with people across many continents."
Richa Chadha added, "Ali and I embarked on this production with a vision to tell unique stories. 'Girls Will Be Girls' making it to Sundance validates our commitment to compelling storytelling. We couldn't be more thrilled. This journey has been about pushing boundaries and redefining narratives, and we are hopeful audiences worldwide will relate with the film. I am also elated the world will see Shuchi's fresh voice and cinematic persepective and some excellent performances from our debutant actors."
Ali said, "Being part of Sundance with our debut production is a dream realized. 'Girls Will Be Girls' is not just a film; it's a celebration of storytelling, and we hope it leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of the audience. This project is a labor of love, and the recognition at Sundance is a testament to the dedication and passion of our entire team."
The film is an Indo-French co-production which is being jointly produced by Pushing Buttons Studios, Crawling Angel Films and the French company, Dolce Vita Films. 'Girls Will Be Girls' has already garnered international acclaim, receiving international grants including the Cinema Du Monde, the Arte Kino Prize and the VFF Talent Highlight Award. It was the Berlinale Talents Project Market in 2022.
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