Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy has made history by winning the Orizzonti Award for Best Director at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her feature debut Songs of Forgotten Trees, which is presented by Anurag Kashyap.
Songs of Forgotten Trees—the only Indian film that got selected in the esteemed Orizzonti section this year— bowled over the audience and jury as it won the coveted title for Anuparna, who took to the stage, visibly emotional and teary eyed and dedicated the award to “every woman who has ever been silenced, overlooked, or underestimated.”
"This film is a tribute to every woman who’s ever been silenced, overlooked, or underestimated. May this win inspire more voices, more stories, and more power for women in cinema and beyond,” said the filmmaker.
Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the film has been produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi and Ranjan Singh and follows the story of two women and how their lives get intertwined in Mumbai.
Beaming with pride over the honour, Bibhanshu said, "Making this film was never easy. We went through challenges, tough days, and moments of doubt. But we held on, because this story had to be told. I knew Anuparna would never give up. She has that fire and it kept all of us going.”
Stating that supporting women like Anuparna isn’t "just a choice, but a responsibility," producer Romil added, "Their stories hold so much strength, honesty, and heart; far more compelling than the endless war-driven tales we see today. This film is my way of standing by her, and by every woman whose voice deserves to be heard.”
Ranjan Singh of Flip Films said Anuparna "stayed true to her first pitch" of the human drama and made the film she wanted to, adding, "This win is the best testament that if one tells stories that they believe in truly, they will resonate with everyone across the world."
According to the official synopsis, the film follows the story of Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress, who sublets her sugar daddy’s upscale apartment to Swetha, a fellow migrant working a corporate job. The two women—seemingly from different worlds— begin to share more than just a space. Amid the relentless pulse of Mumbai, they discover a silent empathy.
The Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival has previously honoured films like Chaitanya Tamhane's Court (2014) and Karan Tejpal's Stolen (2023).
