Anuparna Roy on taking Lovers in the Blue Night to Venice and Busan: ‘It brings a lot of responsibility’

Anuparna Roy

When her favourite filmmaker Tribeny Rai's Shape of Momo won at the Busan International Film Festival in 2025, little had Anuparna Roy imagined that next year, it would be her turn to go to the prestigious gala. The director's latest work, Lovers in the Blue Night, is set to have its Asian première at the festival's 31st edition. "For me, it was a dream too, to be selected at Busan. We were looking for a prestigious Asian première, and Busan is a big platform for independent filmmakers," Roy told mid-day.

A still from ‘Lovers in the Blue Night'. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Before that, the director will take Lovers in the Blue Night to the Venice International Film Festival that opens today. Of course, Venice holds a special place for Roy - last year, her debut film, Songs of Forgotten Trees, won her the Best Director award at the gala. How does it feel to chase international acclaim again? "It's thrilling, but it brings with it a lot of responsibility. I am so scared. While making the film, we didn't know it would go to Venice because the competition there is so high. Getting selected with our favourite filmmakers is something we never dared to dream of," she said.

For Roy, life has changed for the better since the Venice win. "I don't suffer anymore to get producers. Earlier, it was harder as in terms of financial support, we had nothing. Now we have everything."