"Girls Will Be Girl" Becomes First-Ever Indian Film To Win The Coveted John Cassavetes Award

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal's production "Girls Will Be Girls" has created history by winning the highly coveted John Cassavetes Award at the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Shuchi Talati-directed coming-of-age drama is the first Indian film to win this award, which honors the best film produced on a budget of less than $1 million. The film, featuring Kani Kusruti, Preeti Panigrahi, and Kesav Binoy Kiran, explores a girl's sexual discovery at a strict Himalayan boarding school. Chadha described her joy, terming the win "a dream" and one for diverse storytelling. The film, which began streaming on Prime Video India in December 2024, has received praise for its unflinching take on adolescence and family conflict.
Source: Pinkvilla, News18, Times of India