Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s debut movie manufacturing Women Will Be Women has bagged the John Cassavetes Award on the fortieth Impartial Spirit Awards. The Shuchi Talati-directed coming-of-age drama gained the award at a ceremony, held in Santa Monica, California, on Saturday.
The movie was one of many 5 contenders for the John Cassavetes Award, which honours the artistic group of the very best movies made with a funds underneath USD 1 million. Huge Boys, Ghostlight, Jazzy, and The Individuals’s Joker have been the opposite nominees.
Produced by Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s banner Pushing Buttons Studios, Women Will Be Women revolves round a 16-year-old woman known as Mira (Preeti Panigrahi) whose rebellious awakening is intertwined together with her mom’s (Kani Kusruti) unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences.
The movie had its world premiere on the Sundance Movie Pageant the place it obtained two awards final yr.
Successful an award for her debut manufacturing appears like a dream, mentioned Richa Chadha, including that the film represents not only a private journey, however a collective effort of a group.
“To see it recognised on such a grand stage is humbling. As the primary Indian actor and producer to win an Impartial Spirit Award, I really feel like this isn’t simply my victory, however a victory for all of us working to make numerous, genuine tales,” she mentioned.
Alia Fazal added, “This win is a momentous one for us, and for Indian cinema as a complete. The spirit of impartial filmmaking is about taking dangers and telling the reality, regardless of how uncomfortable or difficult which may be. ‘Women Will Be Women’ does precisely that.”
Shuchi Talati known as “Women Will Be Women” a labour of affection.
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“That is extra than simply an award for me – it’s a highly effective affirmation of the story we got down to inform… to have it resonate with audiences and critics alike is past superb,” she mentioned.
On the Impartial Spirit Awards 2025, which helps impartial filmmakers, Kani Kusruti was additionally nominated in the very best supporting efficiency class for her efficiency within the film however misplaced out to Kieran Culkin of A Actual Ache.
In 2022, the Impartial Spirit Awards changed its 4 performing classes with two gender-neutral phase, merging greatest supporting female and male into greatest supporting efficiency.
Anora dominated the movie classes with three wins — greatest function, greatest director for Sean Baker, and greatest lead efficiency for Mikey Madison.
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For A Actual Ache, Jesse Eisenberg gained the very best screenplay trophy and Maisy Stella obtained greatest breakthrough efficiency for My Outdated Ass.
Didi secured greatest first function and greatest first screenplay for Sean Wang. Move was named greatest worldwide movie, and No Different Land gained greatest documentary.
