12052026-LSTC-01.qxd 5/12/2026 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b OWEN COOOPER WINS BAFTA Adolescencebreakout star Owen Cooper has won the BAFTA TV Award for supporting actor, a win that completes an astonishing full set of major awards for the 16-year-old’s first-ever screen role. TRIBUNE Life I want to tell stories which people find relatable, says Karen Kshiti Suvarna, whose film on Alzheimer’s has been selected for the Marche du Film section at Cannes Alia Bhatt jets off to French Riviera As anticipation builds around the Cannes Film Festival 2026, actor Alia Bhatt offered fans a stylish glimpse into her journey to the French Riviera through a playful Instagram story shared while travelling. In the post, Bhatt was seen seated inside an aeroplane, embracing a relaxed yet polished travel aesthetic. She wore a pink baseball cap embroidered with the phrase “tinted and unbothered” and held a lip product from L’Oreal Paris, which she tagged in the story, highlighting her association with the global beauty brand. Adding a touch of humour to the update, she captioned the story “stain alive,” a playful reference to the Stayin’ Alive classic by the Bee Gees, which also featured as the background music for the clip. — ANI Legal action Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that the company used her image on TV packaging without authorisation, citing copyright infringement and trademark infringement. CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 12 MAY 2026 Cannes, here she comes! Nonika Singh “T HE art of filmmaking is silence.” Heavy words from a 22- year-old. And even heavier is young director Karen Kshiti Suvarna’s subject of Alzheimer’s. With her film, September 21, selected for the Marche du Film at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, she shares how she was drawn to such a somber issue, and how the disease which largely afflicts older people resonated with her young years. Come to think of it, c m y b Alzheimer’s as a subject is not new to Hindi film industry. One of last year’s blockbusters, Saiyaara, too dealt with the same. You bet Kshiti has seen the film; only she had finished the shooting of her film when Mohit Suri’s heartrending love story released. If in Saiyaara the patient was a young girl, September 21 revolves around elders, which is when the disease truly strikes. Besides, while most films dealing with the degenerative illness focus on patients, September 21 sees it through the lens of caregivers. The fact, that her writer Raj Shekhar is himself a caregiver, helped her understand what it means to be responsible for the patient’s well-being. She says, “As a rule, patients get greater empathy and few spare a thought for those whose lives are turned upside down in the process of taking care of their loved ones.” Basing her film in real events, her debut feature film, she insists, “is not a sob story but a human drama, where silence speaks.” Silence for her is a significant communication tool, not only because she was aiming for global audiences at film festivals. Of course, she nods that you can never custom-make a film for festivals, especially as premier as Cannes. But she adds, “Since, our subject is so meaningful, festivals seemed a good option to showcase it.” Making the cut in the market section of the festival is undeniably a ‘touch wood’ moment for her, which is yet to sink in. She is not only Cannes ready but also all set to release the film in cinema halls on May 22. Making the cut Payal Kapadia’s historic Grand Prix win at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2024 created a new bar. Does India stand a chance this year? Well, only one short film makes the cut. The 79th edition of the festival which takes place from May 12 to May 23 in Cannes, France, will of course see many of our celebrities from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Alia Bhatt to Aditi Rao Hydari walk the red carpet. But the real toast is cinema and Indian movies which will be seen at Cannes this year are as follows… SHADOWS OF MOONLESS NIGHTS: This 24-minute-short film is directed by 26-year-old Mehar Malhotra, a student of Film and Television Institute of India. All eyes are on this India’s solo chance for a win as this is the only Indian film in competition of any kind. Shadows…. is in the reckoning in La Cinef section for student films. AMMA ARIYAN: A restored version of the 1986 Malayalam classic will be screened in keeping with Film Heritage Foundation’s endeavour to take a masterpiece to Cannes. BALAN THE BOY: Yet another Malayalam drama will be part of the marketing section. CHARDIKALA: Punjabis can take a bow. Directed by Amarjit Saron, starring Ammy Virk and Roopi Gill the Punjabi film will have its premiere at the prestigious festival and mark Virk’s debut at Cannes. SPIRIT OF THE WILDFLOWER: A 90minute documentary written and directed by Shrimoyee Chakraborty has been selected for the marketing section. The film follows the unconventional dreams of two sisters running an illegal distillery. Sherry set for Cannes debut Mrs Universe Sherry Singh is all set to attend the Cannes Film Festival. Known for her evolving journey across entrepreneurship and fashion, Sherry’s upcoming appearance at Cannes marks another milestone in her growing global presence. “Cannes feels incredibly special to me. I’m looking forward to representing confidence, individuality, and modern Indian fashion on an international stage.”