Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal Excited by Girls Will Be Girls Sundance Success, Says 'Storytelling Wins Big

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's debut production 'Girls Will Be Girls' has won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival 2024. Moreover, the documentary is called 'Nocturnes', a co-production between India and the US

The debut production of Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal 'Girls will be girls' has won two awards at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Moreover, the documentary called 'Nights,” an India-US co-production, also received an honor at the festival's annual awards. The event took place in Park City, Utah.

The acting couple achieved considerable success with their first production, Girls will be girls, confirming that it strengthened their belief in the power of storytelling. The film is directed and written by debutant Shuchi Talati. The film won the Audience Award in the World Dramatic Entry category. The film's lead actor, Preeti Panigrahi, also bagged the Special Jury Award for Lead Actor. After the big win, Richa and Ali said in a joint statement that they were extremely lucky to win.

The couple said: “We have started this journey Girls will be girls with courage, and the overwhelming response at Sundance was dreamlike! This experience reinforces our belief in the power of storytelling and the need to champion diverse stories that resonate globally. As actors, we've always longed for powerful stories, but getting those opportunities wasn't always in our hands. That's why it's encouraging to see our new actors receive this global exposure. This recognition motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and telling new stories.”

Besides the acting couple, the film's director Shuchi also said that directing the film was a very personal and rewarding experience. “The film's success at Sundance is a testament to the collaborative efforts of a dedicated team. Richa has protected this story and this film like a lioness. It's heartening to see our story resonate with audiences and critics alike, and I hope it sparks important conversations about coming-of-age experiences that we don't often see on screen.” Shuchi said.

Girls will be girls was produced by Richa and Ali's production called Pushing Buttons Studios in association with Blink Digital and Dolce Vita Films. The film centers on the journey of a 15-year-old teenage girl, whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother's unrealized coming-of-age encounters. The film features Malayalam film actors Kani Kusruti and Jitin Gulati, and debutants Preeti Panigrahi and Kesav Binoy Kiron in the lead roles.