Payal Kapadia’s road trip drama All We Imagine as Light won the Grand Prix (equivalent to second place) at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Marking the first feature from India to play the French fest in 30 years, it turned into one of the buzziest titles overall. Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon star.

Driven by a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, this could be a leading contender for International Feature Film. Yet there’s the caveat that its native nation is unlikely to submit it for consideration. That’s because Kapadia’s screenplay is said to be critical of its government.

Could Light shine in Best Picture and beyond? The distributor will need to run a smart campaign, but I think you’ll see this listed as at least a possibility when I post my next predictions this weekend. In order to contend in BP, it will need at least one another nom and that’s where Kapadia might factor into either Director or Original Screenplay or both. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…