Indian director Payal Kapadia's debut feature project A Knife of Knowing has bagged an award at the Toronto International Film Festival. This was the 46th TIFF Awards which was held on Saturday.
Mumbai Best Director Payal Kapadia's documentary film was one of the three films that won the Amplify Voice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. However, the purpose of this award is to promote the diversity of cinema. British actor-director Kenneth Branagh's family drama Belfast has been awarded the People's Choice Award at this festival.
A statement from TIFF after receiving the award said, "Payal Kapadia's unique documentary strikes a balance of personal and political life along with some amazing snapshots of her country. At one time it is shocking and on the other hand, it shows beauty. A Night of Knowing Nothing is his first feature film showcasing his powerful voice as a filmmaker.
Indian director Payal Kapadia has previously directed the short film Afternoon Cloud in the year 2017. She also directed What is the Summer Saying the Next Year.
Many categories of films got the award on the basis of voting. However, there were many categories whose winners have been selected by the jury members. So the members of the jury say that the film deserves the award, which gives a fresh story and a new perspective to the times to come.
"A Night of Knowing Nothing" was screened as part of the Directors' Fortnight. A section that runs parallel to the film gala in Cannes. The film, helmed by the Mumbai-based director, follows a university student in India, who writes letters to her estranged lover, while he is away. Kapadia, an alumna of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), also has films such as the documentary "And What is the Summer Saying" (2018) and "Last Mango Before the Monsoon", 2015 short, to her credit.
