Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman to Premiere at BIFF, Director Teases Film: 'My Film Is Similar To...'

Nidhi Saxena’s Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman is all set to premiere at the prestigious 29th edition of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) this October. The film, premiering under the “A Window on Asian Cinema” section, has created history already. The director of the gripping film, Nidhi Saxena, became the first Indian female director to earn the distinguished honour of the Asian Cinema Fund in 2024 in the Post-Production category for her debut film. Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman, produced by Nila Madhab Panda, Vimukthi Jayasundara, and Ajender Chawla, delves into themes of memory and identity. It follows a middle-aged woman, haunted by the ghosts of her past as she reaches out to her younger self through letters and phone calls. Confined with her elderly mother in their crumbling ancestral home, they desire to break free from the current state of their lives through a vanishing ritual.

Director Nidhi Saxena, speaking about her debut project shared, “It is a great honour and very empowering to receive the honour of the Asian Cinema Fund, especially since it marks a milestone for women in Indian cinema. I am glad that the critics are resonating with the same, and are giving me the opportunity to spread my wings! I am very excited for Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman to debut at the Busan International Film Festival. This film is very personal to me, like an important letter or an anxious phone call that I’m making to the world. There’s a painting by Frida, ‘The Two Fridas’, a double self-portrait of two Fridas sitting together hand in hand. She tries to support herself through the loneliness that haunts her. My film is similar to that in a way. ”

Producer Nila Madhab Panda shares his thoughts on the film debuting at the Busan International Film Festival, “I am elated for the film to get an international platform! Sad Letters to an Imaginary Woman is a wonderful film that dives deep into complex themes and to see it presented on the big stage is a truly surreal feeling!”

As a recipient of the Asian Cinema Fund and her film to be presented at the Busan International Film Festival, Saxena’s achievement highlights her talent and marks a significant moment for Indian cinema on the global stage. Her story is a testament to the growing influence of Indian women in the international film industry.