Kannada short film ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ qualifies for 2025 Oscars : Valley Vision

The Kannada short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, directed by Chidananda S Naik, has officially qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category.

Produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where Chidananda studied, the film has already made a significant impact on the international stage.

Earlier this year, Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection. Drawing inspiration from Indian folk stories and traditions, the 16-minute short features cinematography by Suraj Thakur, editing by Manoj V, and sound design by Abhishek Kadam.

The La Cinef Jury at Cannes commended the film’s storytelling and direction, stating, “An illumination that, from the depths of the night, shines with humour and a keen sense of direction, the first prize is awarded to Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know by Chidananda S Naik.”

In a press statement, Chidananda expressed, “This story has been a lifelong dream to tell. We wanted to create an experience that makes audiences feel as though they’re not just hearing the story, but truly living it—a feeling I hope resonates with viewers worldwide.”

The film’s narrative centers on an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, halting the sunrise. A prophecy is invoked to restore balance, resulting in the woman’s exile and her family’s mission to retrieve the rooster. Shot entirely at night, the film offers an immersive experience of the Indian landscape and has received acclaim on the festival circuit, including winning the Best Indian Competition award at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival. Now, it is set to compete among the world’s finest short films at the Oscars.