Mumbai: Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been named jury president for the 65th Cannes Critics’ Week, a section that runs alongside the main festival and focuses on new voices in cinema.
Payal will lead an international jury that includes actor Théodore Pellerin, singer-songwriter Oklou, producer Ama Ampadu, and filmmaker and festival director Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.
Also known as ‘Semaine de la Critique’, the section is organised by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. This year’s edition will take place from May 13 to 21.
“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. 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,” Payal stated.
Payal won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2024 for her film ‘All We Imagine As Light’.
It was the first Indian film to be in the main Cannes competition in 30 years.
In 2025, she was part of the Cannes competition jury, which gave the top prize to Jafar Panahi’s film ‘It Was Just an Accident’.
‘All We Imagine As Light’ is an Indo-French film about a nurse, Prabha (played by Kani Kusruti), who receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband.
Her roommate Anu (played by Divya Prabha) is trying to find a private place to meet her lover. The two women later go on a road trip to a beach town, where they explore their dreams and emotions.
The film was widely praised and won many international awards.
Payal’s short films ‘Afternoon Clouds’ and ‘And What is the Summer Saying’ were shown at major festivals like Cinéfondation and Berlinale.
Her first documentary, ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing’, was screened at Cannes in 2021 and won the Best Documentary award.
The Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to May 23. South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook will head the main competition jury. He is best known for his film ‘Oldboy’, and his latest work ‘No Other Choice’.
