April 25, 2025: Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been awarded the distinguished Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to cinema and the cultural relationship between India and France.
The award ceremony was held earlier this week at the French Consul General’s residence on Mumbai’s Peddar Road. The accolade was presented by the Consul General of France and marks Kapadia’s inclusion in a prestigious list of Indian cultural icons previously honoured, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Lata Mangeshkar.
Speaking at the event, Kapadia expressed her gratitude and joy, saying, “It is an honour and a privilege to be conferred with the distinction of Officer of Arts and Letters. I am also very thankful for the French Government’s dedicated support towards independent cinema all over the world.”
Kapadia’s journey into international cinema acclaim began in 2017, when her short film Afternoon Clouds was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. She further rose to prominence after winning the Golden Eye award for her debut feature documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing.
In 2024, she made history with her fiction feature debut All We Imagine as Light, which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival — making her the first Indian director in three decades to win an award in the main competition. The film was also co-produced in France and was shortlisted as France’s official entry for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category. It went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination and numerous international accolades.
This prestigious recognition from France reaffirms Kapadia’s place as one of the most significant voices in global cinema today.