Payal Kapadia to head Critics’ Week jury at Cannes after Grand Prix win

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia is set to return to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival after her recent global success. Her film ‘All We Imagine as Light’ previously earned the Grand Prix at the 77th edition of the festival, marking a major milestone in her career.

This time, Kapadia will take on a new responsibility as the president of the jury for the 65th edition of Critics’ Week at Cannes, according to reports by Variety.

She will be part of a diverse jury panel that includes Quebecois actor Théodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, Ghanaian-British producer Ama Ampadu, and journalist and director of the Bangkok World Film Festival Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.

In an official statement, Critics’ Week praised Kapadia’s body of work, highlighting how her films bring together poetic storytelling with a sharp political perspective on her country.

The statement noted that this contrast defines the strength of her cinema, where different forms are used to reflect folk traditions, explore unseen lives, and address themes such as class struggle and the lived experiences of women.

Journey through cinema

Kapadia studied directing at the Film & Television Institute of India in Pune, where her early work began to gain international recognition.

Her short films ‘Afternoon Clouds’ and ‘And What Is the Summer Saying’ were selected for prestigious sections such as Cinéfondation and the Berlinale.

Her first feature documentary, ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’, was showcased at the Directors’ Fortnight in 2021 and went on to win L’Oeil d’Or for Best Documentary.

In 2024, she achieved further acclaim when Cannes awarded the Grand Prix to her second feature, ‘All We Imagine as Light.’

Reflecting on her journey, Kapadia spoke about how early support from film festivals played a crucial role in shaping her career.

“My own journey as a filmmaker was supported early on because of film festival selections. Through these I had the opportunity to meet others like myself from across the world and helped me build a community of future collaborators. At a time where independent cinema is being eroded in every country, supporting the first works of filmmakers is almost a resistance to the market forces,” she said.

She also highlighted the importance of film criticism in sustaining independent cinema.

“Film criticism is one of the key components of the independent and art-house film ecosystem. The first films are often freer, more daring and fearless, having an individual voice and to champion those is absolutely essential. First films are also fragile and to be nurtured in a section like Critics’ Week, helps them blossom amongst already established filmmaker’s work,” she added.

Agency inputs