Won at Cannes, now leads jury: India's Payal Kapadia takes over Critics' Week
A year after All We Imagine As Light made history at Cannes, Payal Kapadia has landed another major honour at the festival. She will now head the jury at the 65th Cannes Critics' Week, which spotlights emerging talent from across the world.
Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been named the president of the jury for the 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week, a prestigious sidebar section that runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival and focuses on emerging voices in cinema. The appointment marks another major milestone for Kapadia following the global success of her acclaimed film All We Imagine As Light.
Payal will head an international jury panel that includes Quebecois actor Theodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu, and journalist as well as Bangkok World Film Festival director Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.
Known as Semaine de la critique, Cannes Critics’ Week is organised by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. Its 65th edition is scheduled to take place from May 13 to May 21.
Kapadia’s rise on the global stage gained momentum after All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2024. The film also made history as the first Indian film to compete in the festival’s main competition in 30 years.
In 2025, she returned to Cannes as a member of the main competition jury that selected the festival’s top honour, which was awarded to Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident.
All We Imagine As Light, an Indo-French production, follows the story of Prabha, played by Kani Kusruti, a nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate Anu, played by Divya Prabha, is also navigating her own relationship, leading the two women on a life-changing trip to a beach town. The film earned widespread critical acclaim and several international awards.
Meanwhile, the Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to May 23, with South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook serving as president of the jury for the main competition. He is best known for directing Oldboy, and his latest directorial release was No Other Choice.
Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been named the president of the jury for the 65th edition of Cannes Critics’ Week, a prestigious sidebar section that runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival and focuses on emerging voices in cinema. The appointment marks another major milestone for Kapadia following the global success of her acclaimed film All We Imagine As Light.
Payal will head an international jury panel that includes Quebecois actor Theodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu, and journalist as well as Bangkok World Film Festival director Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.
Known as Semaine de la critique, Cannes Critics’ Week is organised by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. Its 65th edition is scheduled to take place from May 13 to May 21.
Kapadia’s rise on the global stage gained momentum after All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2024. The film also made history as the first Indian film to compete in the festival’s main competition in 30 years.
In 2025, she returned to Cannes as a member of the main competition jury that selected the festival’s top honour, which was awarded to Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident.
All We Imagine As Light, an Indo-French production, follows the story of Prabha, played by Kani Kusruti, a nurse who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate Anu, played by Divya Prabha, is also navigating her own relationship, leading the two women on a life-changing trip to a beach town. The film earned widespread critical acclaim and several international awards.
Meanwhile, the Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to May 23, with South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook serving as president of the jury for the main competition. He is best known for directing Oldboy, and his latest directorial release was No Other Choice.
