Shalini Adnani’s Our Share of Sand has won the Audience Award at the 41st International Film Critics’ Week at the Venice International Film Festival.
The India-UK-Greece production had its world premiere in the Critics’ Week competition, which ran alongside the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The award was announced among the section’s 2026 prizes, with Our Share of Sand receiving the audience prize.
Written and directed by Adnani, the 95-minute film follows 12-year-old Maya, who returns to India with her mother to reunite with her estranged father, a businessman involved in sand mining. After a tragic accident, Maya becomes a key witness in a police investigation, while her father relies on her to help absolve him. As she begins searching for the truth, she encounters a pattern of silence, exploitation and complicity within her family.
The film stars Maya Mehta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Ellora Torchia. It was produced by Sara Bonakdar for Fifth Mirror Pictures, with Alan McAlex of India’s Suitable Pictures and Balthazar de Ganay, Giorgos Karnavas and Michael Graf of Greece’s Heretic. Global Constellation is handling international sales.
The film was shot in Maharashtra over 37 days between January and March 2025, with Mehta making her debut as a child actor. The production was backed by the BFI and Film4.
Adnani is a Chilean-born, London-based filmmaker of Indian origin. Her short film White Ant premiered at Sundance and was subsequently acquired by Canal+. She was also named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow in 2025. Our Share of Sand is her debut feature.
The film was previously selected for the 2026 GREAT 8 showcase, a British Council and BFI initiative highlighting emerging UK filmmaking talent and feature debuts.
Our Share of Sand is also set to screen in the First Feature Competition at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival.
