Cannes Xpress 2024: Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s Girls Will Be Girls to premiere at the festival

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s debut production, Girls Will Be Girls will premiere at Cannes Film Festival this year. It will be featured under the Cannes Écrans Junior’s category, a selection dedicated to international feature films that appeal to young audiences aged thirteen and over, introducing them to diverse themes, cultures, and cinematic art.

The film is scheduled to screen on May 22 and 23 at the Alexandre III theatre and on May 24 at the Raimu Hall. It is written and directed by Suchi Talati and stars Kani Kusruti, Jitin Gulati, Preeti Panigrahi, and Kesav Binoy Kiron in pivotal roles.

It previously premiered at Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award in the World Dramatic Entry category and the Special Jury Award for Lead Actress Preeti Panigrahi. After that, it was showcased at South by Southwest Film Festival.

Speaking about the selection at Cannes Film Festival, Richa said in a statement, “We are thrilled to see the film reach Cannes. This project is very close to our hearts, and the recognition it has received so far has been overwhelming. Producing this film has been a labor of love, and to see it resonate with audiences globally is incredibly fulfilling. It's a film that speaks to the complexities of growing up, and we can't wait for the Cannes audience to experience it.”

Ali added in his statement, “From the very beginning, we knew Girls Will Be Girls was a special project. The response at Sundance was beyond our expectations, and now premiering at Cannes is a dream come true. Suchi Talati has crafted a beautiful, poignant story that deserves this platform. We are proud to be part of a film that not only entertains but also sparks important conversations. This is just the beginning, and we are excited for what’s to come.”

The film tells the story of a 16-year-old girl navigating the challenges of adolescence within the confines of a boarding school. It is a joint venture of Richa and Ali's production house Pushing Buttons Studios along with Blink Digital, Crawling Angel Films and Dolce Vita Films.