- Oscar Qualification: The Kannada short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, directed by Chidananda S Naik, has qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category.
- Award-Winning Journey: The film, initially created as a project at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has already garnered international acclaim by winning the La Cinef award for Best Short at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.
- Bengaluru Festival Success: Its selection for the Oscars follows a victory at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival, further boosting the film’s recognition on the global stage.
- Folkloric Inspiration: Rooted in Kannada folklore, the film tells a unique story of an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, leading the villagers on a quest to recover it and “restore the sun’s light.”
- Talented Crew: Suraj Thakur served as the cinematographer, Manoj V as the editor, and Abhishek Kadam handled sound design, contributing to the film’s impactful storytelling and production quality.
- Celebration of Regional Cinema: The FTII and the Kannada film industry celebrate this milestone, highlighting the growing influence of regional Indian cinema on the global stage.
Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know stands as a testament to the power of regional stories in connecting with universal themes, capturing the spirit of Kannada folklore in an international spotlight.