All That Breathes: Shaunak Sen’s post after Oscars 2023 loss is a lesson in grace

All That Breathes director Shaunak Sen has shared his first reactions on social media after the film didn’t make the cut at the 95th Academy Awards. The film is a documentary that was nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category.

Shaunak Sen took to his Instagram handle to share photos from the Oscars 2023. In one pic, he can be seen posing with an “L” hand sign on his forehead. He wrote, “So many chin-uppy messages of encouragement/support since yesterday. We were low for about an hour, but we’re soon distracted into equanimity amidst the whirl of glittery people and things. Brain is still to wrap around the fact that this is the end of this chapter.”

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He also added that he will work with his team to get distribution for All That Breathes. He added, “For now, very very nice to share this bizarre, swollen day with the brothers, and so many members of our crew. Hugest congratulations to all the winning films from India.”

All That Breathes won much critical reception and several awards at film festivals including the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival 2022 and the Golden Eye at Cannes Film Festival 2022. At the Oscars 2023, the film lost the Best Documentary Feature award to Daniel Roher’s Navalny.

Meanwhile, India made history at the Oscars with two wins – RRR’s Naatu Naatu for Best Original Song and The Elephant Whisperers for Best Documentary Short.