Chidananda S Naik
Chidananda S Naik is an Indian doctor-turned-filmmaker from Mysuru, Karnataka, known for his short film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know.... In 2024, he won the first prize at La Cinéf, a sidebar competition for student films at the Cannes Film Festival.[1]
Early life
Born in 1995 in Shivamogga, Karnataka, Chidananda pursued a career in medicine and completed his MBBS at Mysore Medical College.[2] His experiences with patients led him to explore filmmaking. He then enrolled in a Direction course at FTII, Pune and graduated.[1][2]
Career
Chidananda made Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... in four days at the end of his one-year television course in the Film and Television Institute of India. The 16-minute film is based on a Kannada folk tale.[3] The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was one of 18 titles judged by a jury of five members, chaired by Belgian actress Lubna Azabal.[3]
Chidananda is first student from FTII's one-year Television course to make it to La Cinéf.[1]
Filmography
- Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... (2023)
Awards
- Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... - 1st prize at LA CINEF 2024[4]
References
- "MIFF 2024 | Chidananda S Naik: 'Medicine itself drew me towards art; while we delved into anatomy, I often pondered about emotions and feelings'". 16 June 2024.
- Sampalli, Shashi (2024-06-07). "Chidananda S. Naik interview: 'My only goal is to make a good film'". thefederal.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- "India's Chidananda S Naik wins Cannes La Cinef first prize for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know". 24 May 2024.
- "SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW..." Festival de Cannes. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-06-22.